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31
1919
It is also feared that rickets and scurvy would be associated
with dried and preserved foods, but there is no reason to think that
these diseases are any more prevalent among children brought up
on Dried Milk, than amongst those brought up on Fresh Milk.
Recently a good deal has been written upon substances found
in food called " vitamines," and in view of the importance of the
subject of Dried Milk, experiments have been carried out under the
supervision of the Local Government Board, in order to find out
whether the vitamines in Fresh Milk are destroyed in the process of
drying. The experiments have not been extensive, but as far as they
go they prove that the vitamines are not destroyed in the process of
drying.
From this point of view of the subject, I think I am entirely
justified in changing our mode of procedure and to distribute Dried
Milk instead of Fresh Milk, and in any recommendation which the
Committee may make upon the Circular of the Ministry of Health,
it will be understood that the distribution in every instance will be
Dried Milk.
The Circular calls the attention of Local Authorities to the
price of Milk and trusts that those who have already made arrangements
for the supply of milk to necessitous mothers and young
children in the district, will consider whether any extension of these
arrangements is required. The Circular strongly urges that adequate
steps should be taken by means of hand-bills, or otherwise,
to bring to the notice of all expectant and nursing mothers who are
likely to be unable to provide sufficient milk for themselves and their
children, the facilities provided by the Local Authorities and by
other agencies in the District for obtaining a proper supply of Milk.
The Health Visitors, the doctors and Midwives practising in
the district, should be asked to report to the Medical Officer of
Health any expectant and nursing mothers, who in their opinion require
an additional supply of Milk. The Health Visitors should be
instructed to urge all women with children under school age, to bring
their children to the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres, and when
this cannot be done, to report all cases in which an extra supply of
milk appears to be required.
The Medical Officer of Health should place before the appropriate
Committee of the Local Authority the cases of women and
children reported to need additional milk,