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83
The comparatively small number (22 per cent.) of healthy
infants and children, and the correspondingly large number
(78 per cent.) of unhealthy, or diseased, infants and children,
at the time that they were put upon the milk, are
important points to remember in considering the benefits
that have been derived from the use of such milk.
Of the 22 healthy infants and children, one died from
inflammation of the bowels (though for a period of seven
weeks this infant had previously improved whilst being fed
upon the milk), and the other 21 did well (improving and
gaining regularly in weight)—a record that cannot be
beaten even in the case of breast-fed, and is much above that
of ordinary hand-fed, infants and children.
Of the 78 wasting, or diseased, infants and children, eight
died 58 improved and only 12 shewed no improvement (but
did not die)—a satisfactory record.
Of the four moribund infants and children, one died, two
improved, and one shewed no improvement (but did not die).
Of the 28 diseased infants and children, two died, 20 improved
and six shewed no improvement (but did not die).
No single case of infectious disease, with the exception of
epidemic diarrhoea, occurred amongst the 100 infants and
children, whilst they were being fed upon the milk, and it is
clear that the cases of epidemic diarrhcea that did occur (13
in number), were in no way connected with the milk, having
regard to the comparatively small number of infants and
children affected, and must have arisen from some other
source, e.g., infected dust and dirt, which gained entrance
into the system through the mouth (1) by breathing, or (2)
by means of the "baby comforters," which are in such
general use, and so insanitary.
The infants and children have been sent to the Milk Depot
by medical men, hospitals, charitable organisations, the
Board of Guardians, or mothers whose own children have
already derived benefit from the use of the milk, and, previous
to using the Depot Milk, the infants and children had
been fed upon all sorts of improper foods, e.g., condensed
milks, artificial foods, solid food suitable only for adults,
white of egg and brandy, cow's milk and barley water, etc.