View report page

26
The printed instructions sent to the parents of newlyborn
infants, if properly and carefully followed, should do
much to protect infant life, and no effort should be spared in
this direction when no fewer than 110,000 infants under one
year of age die in England and Wales every year largely for
the want of proper feeding and nursing.
EPIDEMIC DIARRHœA.
Fifteen deaths, all under the age of two years, were
notified from this cause occurring principally in the months
of August and September.
This does not represent any undue incidence of the
disease. As I have reported in previous years, this complaint
appears to be greatly influenced by the nature of the summer
seasons, as when a hot dry summer is experienced it is very
often accompanied by an epidemic of this disease.
The summer of this year was not unduly tropical in comparison
with 1911, when I reported 28 deaths from this cause.
MORTUARY.
The new Mortuary, opened at the end of last year, has
afforded ample accommodation for the needs of the district,
and its value has been much appreciated by medical men for
post mortem purposes.
The post mortem room, which is isolated from the other
apartments, is provided with every convenience and facility
in connection with its use.
The building conforms with the requirements laid down
by the Local Government Board.