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52
Six children died in their fourth week. Three of these
had been ailing since birth; one was stated to have had
influenza, one was said to have been healthy at birth, and in
the other, information was withheld.
Of the cases over two months old inquired into, six were
delicate children at birth, and had always been ailing; one
was a twin ; one was stated to have had influenza, and six
were stated to have been "quite healthy" until the lung
disease supervened. Of the six who were stated not to have
had any previous illness, the mothers of four of these were
employed in laundry work.
Of the 14 deaths in children between two and twelve
months old from lung disease, in only four instances had the
mother suckled her child.
Dr. Foulerton, in the report above mentioned, states that
if the general causes predisposing to, and the special conditions
associated with, pneumonia amongst young children are viewed
broadly, it will be found that in the first year of life gross
defects of development and ante-natal infection with syphilis
have a distinct influence. It will be found also that many of
the deaths in the first year are associated with marasmus,
whether that condition is due to prematurity of birth or be
caused by artificial feeding. Association of pneumonia with
rickets also becomes noticeable towards the end of the first
year.
The broncho-pneumonia, which is the chief cause of the
heavy mortality from diseases of the respiratory system in
children, is believed to be, in the main, an effect of direct
infection of the lung, occurring usually under conditions of
general enfeeblement in which the power of resistance of the
lung against bacterial invasion from without is lowered, and
if this view is correct, the importance of artificial feeding as
a primary cause of lung disease becomes apparent.