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It will thus be apparent that our infant mortality, though high, is an
improvement on the previous year. I have frequently alluded to the
causes of a high infant mortality, and I purpose drawing up a leaflet giving
simple instructions with regard to infant feeding. These leaflets will be
supplied to the Registrar of the district who will give one to each person
who registers a birth.
In the latter part of the year a warning was issued to parents and
guardians as to the dangers attending the use of "Condensed Separated"
and "Condensed Skimmed" milks for the feeding of infants and young
children. "Condensed Separated" milk is milk condensed after the fat
has been separated by a centrifugal machine. "Condensed Skimmed"
milk is milk condensed after the cream has been skimmed off. I may
note here that Nestles Condensed Milk contains the whole of the
original solid matter of the milk.
The amended Infant Life Protection Bill came into force on the 1st
of January, 1898.
It is a matter of regret that the clause allowing a woman to receive
one child for hire and reward without coming under the Act is still
partially retained. Those women who receive children—mostly
illegitimate—and adopt them, one child at a time, for a sum down, do
not come under the Act, providing they receive payment exceeding
£20. Thus they are not affected by the provisions of the Act if they
receive £20 and is. This is too small a price for the disposal of an
illegitimate child to ensure that some women will not continue, by
accepting one child at a time, to rid themselves of their charges by
ill-feeding and exposure.
ZYMOTIC DEATH-RATE.
The total number of deaths registered from Zymotic diseases
was 78.