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32
It is a point of some interest to note that out of 31 cases
where the supply of milk was completely absent in eight of
these, on a previous occasion, there was no possibility of any
attempt being made to feed naturally, as that function remained
in abeyance, and in eight cases where the mother was
in feeble health, all the children eventually died. These facts
suggest that in order to fully analyse the cause of Infantile
Mortality the mother and her characteristics must not be overlooked
lest we fall into the same errors as have appeared in
certain authoritative documents.
The Babies' Welcome.
As an ancillary scheme to the visiting, as narrated above,
which is of course mainly inspection, there has been established
for the last two years' a Babies' Welcome. The atmosphere
of such an institution is very different from the organisation
under the Birth Notification Act, as in this case something
positive is attempted. The mothers are encouraged to bring
up their babies, whether ailing or not, so that a record of their
weight may be obtained and the development of the child discussed.
This institution is not an Out-patient Department for
ailing infants, in fact, such are out of place, as it concerns
itself mainly with the child whilst it is well, and its object is
to keep them well. All children, when artificially feed, should
be brought each week so that an indication can be obtained as
to whether the food supplied is suiting the child or not and
thereby much risk to life avoided.
It is to be regretted that 40 out of 161 only attended once,
but we hope to devise some means during the year whereby
the occasion of each meeting may be made somewhat of a
social function.