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22
Of the babies visited :—
80.0 per cent. were breast-fed;
14.3 per cent. were bottle-fed;
5.7 per cent. were partly breast-fed and
partly bottle-fed.
When visiting it was found that in sixty-four
cases it was necessary to advise that the child should
be taken to a doctor. On the whole, however, the
babies were found to be in a healthy condition.
Only a few mothers were found giving boiled
bread and biscuits to very young babies.
I am glad to say that I found fewer fathers out of
work than in the previous year.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum became compulsorily
notifiable on April 1st, 1914. Since then, nine cases
have been reported. These I have immediately visited.
In February, 1914, one hundred mothers, with
their babies, were invited to a tea held in the Longfield
Hall. A very enjoyable time was spent, and the
mothers very much appreciated the interest taken in
them. Dr. Patten, the Medical Officer of Health,
briefly addressed a few encouraging words to the
mothers, and remarked upon the fine and healthy
appearance of the babies.
In April, the Victoria Hall Trustees increased the
grant for milk for necessitous mothers from £5 to
£10. This has enabled me to supply a larger number
with milk. Forty-two mothers have been supplied
with milk for varying periods, from two weeks to four
months. This supply of milk has proved very beneficial
; for example, a mother with twins, who had
three other children, and whose husband earned only
£1 weekly, was allowed the milk for four months, and