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The average time for giving up work before confinement seemed to be
somewhere about three weeks, but of those who worked at home over 50 per
cent, continued to do so till within one week of the birth. Most of those engaged
away from home gave up their work three or six weeks before the confinement
was expected to take place, The bulk of the homeworkers also started work
within one month of the confinement, the other industrially employed mothers
not returning till a much later date.
As to the nursing of the babies, it was found that the total number nursed
by persons other than the mothers was 12, four each of the women working at
home, in workshops or elsewhere, finding it necessary to get assistance at home.
The percentage of women working at home or occupied in charing who did not
take entire charge of their infants was therefore very small.
Only five of the babies were actually put out to nurse and in every case the
mother was a charwoman.
In connection with the feeding of the babies, it was found that only nine
out of the total number were entirely artificially fed, all the mothers, even those
industrially employed, apparently endeavouring to feed their babies either
wholly or partially on breast milk. None of the women employed away from
home fed their babies entirely on artificial food before the age of six months was
reached. This seems to be one of the most important facts elicited in the whole
investigation.
Of the 15 babies who died, the age at death was, in one under 2 months ;
2 under 3 months; 4 under 6 and 8 under 12 months. The causes of death
were: infectious disease, 2; wasting, 1, and other diseases 12.
As already stated, no conclusions of any value can be drawn from these
figures, and the final report of the Home Secretary is looked forward to with a
considerable amount of interest.
DEATHS IN RELATION TO DISEASE.
In the list given in Table IV (Local Government Board Series, page 73),
certain of the causes stand out over the others as chief, and it is necessary to
make a few comments regarding these:—
Diarrhceal Diseases.
The total number of deaths during the year from these diseases was 45,
the death rate being .35 per 1,000. The fact that 35 of the 259 infant
deaths were due to this disease has already been noted. Diarrhoea