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2.— That the period of one nnntli's abstention from factory work away from
home now imposed upon mothers be extended to at least three months, and
that, on their return to work, evidence must be produced satisfactory to the
Local Authority that proper provision has been made for the care of the child.
C.—Infants.
1.—That, having regard to the ascertained fact that in centres of industries
where women are largely employed awav from their homes an excessive
number of deaths of infants take place, and that this is contributed to by the
improper conditions existing at the houses in which infants are placed out to
nurse, it is necessary that the persons by whom, and the places into which,
infants are received, should be under supervision by th? Local Sanitary
Authority.
2.—That the Infant Life Protection Act be amended to remedy abuses
which are not at present provided against.
3.—That, in the opinion of this Conference, the question of the insurance of
infant lives under twelve months is one demanding serious consideration, and,
with a view to receiving reliable information, the Government should be asked
to appoint a Departmental Committee of Inquiry on the whole question.
D.—Milk.
1.—That, in the opinion of this Conference, immediate legislation is
required enabling Sanitary Authorities to establish or support depots for the
supply of pure, or modified, or sterilized milk, and to defray any cost out of
the monies available for public health purposes.
2.—That the Dairies, Milkshops, and Cowsheds Order is defective, and that
any amendment should extend the definition ot' disease as applied to animals,
and should make the provision of regulations by local authorities compulsory.
That the scope of the regulations should be extended to cover dirty milk, and
should enable Local Authorities to prohibit the sale of any milk which fails to
comply with the conditions of purity agreed upon.
3.—That all preparations offered or sold as food for infants should be
certified by a Government Analyst as non-injurious, and that each packet
should contain its analysis.
E.—Schools.
That the Education Department be urged to add instruction in Elementary
Hygiene with reference to the dietary and rearing of infants to their present
scheme for systematically training girls in the senior classes in the practice
and principles of personal hygiene and the elements of dietary.
F.—Midwives.
That, in the opinion of this Conference, the Midwives Act, 1902, should
be extended to Scotland and Ireland.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN F. J. SYIvES,
Medical Officer of Health.