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37
month. When once breast-feeding is established it can generally be maintained
if due attention be paid to the mother's health, so that there is hope that by
advice, instruction, and assistance the infants of Somers Town may be breastfed
for six months in 85 per cent. of cases, and probably ultimately 9 out of 10
infants will be breast-fed until the early signs of teething.
In his Annual Report for the year 1909 the Medical Officer of Health of the
London County Council shows, on page 22, that in 1909, as compared with 1905,
the greatest decrease in infantile mortality was in the sixth and seventh month
of age—that is, from over five to under seven months. On page 24 he further
shows that during the five years the age incidence curve of diarrhceal diseases
rose to a maximum in the fourth month and thereafter progressively declined.
These indications point to the probable further decrease in mortality obtainable
by the delay of weaning until teething.