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16
Out of 17 deaths among infants who attended the consultation only 4 were
reported as having suffered from diarrhoea and sickness during the summer. At the
end of the year, with the exception of those 4, all who had suffered from diarrhcea
were reported as doing well.
Of the 17 who died, the cause of death in two cases was stated to be wasting
after diarrhaea.
The number of babies visited by the Women Inspectors was 2,065. The number
visited in their own homes by the voluntary workers of the Society was 361.
Tables setting forth the information obtained as a result of these visits will be
found on page 19. (Table V.)
The leaflets used by the women inspectors and the voluntary workers are the
same, and so far as babies are concerned cards of instruction as to feeding are widely
distributed, and along with them special leaflets of information with regard to diarrhcea
as follows:—
Metropolitan Borough of St. Marylebone.
SUMMER DIARRHCEA.
Public Health Department,
24, Somerset Street, W.
Every summer, during the warm weather, many hundreds of babies suffer from
sickness and diarrhcea, and very many die.
This illness is nearly always caused by dirt getting into baby's mouth in some way,
from dirty feeding bottles, dirty teats, dirty dummies and dirty hands.
Wrong feeding makes it worse, and bottle-fed babies are more likely to suffer
than breast-fed babies.
With care mothers can keep babies from catching the disease.
1. What to do to keep Sickness and Diarrhcea away.
(1.) Feed baby on the breast, and keep the nipples very clean.
(2.) Do not wean baby during the hot weather.
(3.) If baby must be fed on the bottle, do not use a long tube bottle.
(4.) Only use a clean boat-shaped bottle.
(5.) Boil baby's milk as soon as it is taken from the milkman, and keep it
covered.
(6.) Only make one feed at a time.
(7.) Do not use old feeds. If baby does not finish all there is in the bottle, the
rest may be used for cooking purposes.
(8.) Wash out the bottle and teat in hot water directly baby is fed, and keep
them in cold water till the next feeding time.