View report page

21
affords convincing proof that the term Infantile Mortality is not
synonymous with Improper Feeding. There is no intention to
minimise the important part which ignorance and carelessness
in the feeding of infants play in producing a high death rate ;
and it is a significant fact, that of the 30 deaths from Diarrhœal
diseases which were inquired into, not one of the children was
entirely breast fed; but it is getting more and more patent that
a purer milk supply and a juster appreciation of the principles
of infant feeding will not completely solve the question of
Infantile Mortality.
There has been an improvement between the ages of three
and twelve months, but the death rate amongst children under
three months has been stationary, or, if anything, it has
advanced.
The Chairman of the Health Committee recently called
attention to this matter, and pointed out that one-third of the
deaths of infants under one year of age occurred before the
birth of the child was made known to the Sanitary Authority.
It is true that, under existing conditions, the causes of
some of these deaths are beyond the control of any Sanitary
Authority. Thirty-three deaths were due to congenital causes;
and until some means be devised whereby attention can be
directed to the Hygiene of Pregnancy, this sacrifice of life will
continue. Possibly, Acton is peculiarly situated in this respect.
A large number of married females are employed in the local
industries, and it is more than probable that work which
necessitates standing, and continued far into pregnancy, does
tend to produce an abnormal percentage of premature children.
But, this aspect of female labour, after all, is only a symptom ;
the cause lies deeper, and presents one of the most difficult of
social problems.