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16
By a grant from the Corporation, mothers who were unable to obtain sufficient
nourishment to enable them to nurse their babies, were supplied with pints of
milk daily.
A room at the Shelter, Golden Lane, is now utilised as a weighing room, and the
mothers come each Monday afternoon to register the weight of their babies. These
meetings give the mothers an opportunity for exchanging ideas which can be corrected
and enlarged upon when necessary. There is also engendered a spirit of emulation
among the mothers which cannot but be beneficial.
In many cases the mothers and fathers are ignorant of their duties ; and they
cannot be blamed for their indifference and thoughtlessness until in some way it is
found possible to educate them and make them familiar with the fundamental principles
of Hygiene and other matters relating to health.
1 have to acknowledge kindly help from the Guildhall Police Court for grants of
money made from time to time for the purpose of providing milk for babies who were
not eligible for the milk under the Corporation scheme ; also from the City Clergy.
The number of births registered as occurring in the City was 410, and the number
of deaths under twelve months was 19. This is equivalent to an infant mortality rate
of 46*3 per 1,000, the lowest on record in the City, notwithstanding the phenomenally
hot weather experienced during the summer months.
Deaths in City Institutions.
During 1911, 84 citizens died in City Workhouses, Workhouse Infirmaries or
Lunatic Asylums, or no less than 39.4 per cent, of the whole City mortality, the
corresponding figure for the Metropolis being 41.2 per cent.