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79
undoubtedly did their best, and the very eagerness with which many
of them listened to the advice on these points, given by the
Woman Inspector, spoke sufficiently for their good intentions.
It was seen that a tendency towards overcrowding existed among
many of the families affected, a condition which certainly encourages
bad and unhealthy habits of living. Finally, the facts noted in
connection with the experimental area have been brought out, and
go to illustrate, I think, the good that may be done by taking early
measures to secure a good service of scavagery, refuse removal and
dust prevention.
I shall now consider the remedies that suggest themselves from
the foregoing observations.
Education. Ignorance and consequent neglect are in reality
the crucial points of the question of infantile mortality generally, as
well as of this important constituent of it. Girls nowadays have no
time nor, indeed, inclination, to acquire domestic knowledge in
their mother's homes. They certainly have no opportunity at
school, and we must not, therefore, be surprised when we hear that
while other infectious diseases in the country are showing diminishing
death rates, summer diarrhcea and other illnesses contributing to the
causes of infantile mortality present no improvement whatever
In the absence, then, of any proper or adequate teaching in the
schools on such matters, much may be done in the future by
continuing and expanding the system which the Council has
already instituted with success, namely, the employment of a
Woman Inspector to visit those houses especially where births
have recently taken place, and where the inhabitants cannot afford
medical aid and to impart instruction and advice to the mother on
matters connected with her infant's health.
In this way the vital importance of breast feeding can be impressed
upon the mother, and if for any reason it is impossible for
her to supply natural nourishment, she can be shown how to
sterilize cow's milk by boiling, how to secure its freedom from