London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Willesden 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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35
INFANTILE DEATHS FROM ZYMOTIC DIARRHŒA.
Of the 651 births of children believed to be alive at the end of the year, the methods of feeding were found to be as follows:—
| Breast fed. | Hand fed. | Breast fed supplemented by Hand feeding. | Breast fed for short period followed by Hand feeding. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 463 | 76 | 105 | 7 |
| 71.1% | 11.6% | 16.1% | 1.0% |
Of the 221 infantile deaths from all causes enquired into the methods of feeding were found to be as follows:—
| 19.9% | 56.1% | 11.7% | 9.9% |
Five due to premature birth were not fed.
Of the 114 of these deaths which were ascribed to zymotic diarrhœa, the methods of feeding were found to be as follows:—
| Breast fed. | Hand fed. | Breast fed supplemented by Hand feeding. | Breast fed for short period followed by Hand feeding. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 75 | 13 | 13 |
| 11.4% | 65.8% | 11.4% | 114% |
The bearing of the method of feeding upon the chances of survival is well seen in the following table giving the percentage of each method for each class investigated.
| Breast fed. Per cent. | Hand fed entirely or in part. Per cent. | |
|---|---|---|
| Infants alive at end of year | 71.1 | 28.9 |
| Infants dead from other causes than diarrhoea | 30.4 | 69.6 |
| Infants dead from diarrhœa | 11.4 | 88.6 |
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