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101
It must be remembered that the infants and children fed
upon the milk belonged to the poorer classes, and, with few
exceptions, were, as regards bodily health, at tne time of
commencing the milk, much below the average—78 per cent.
actually suffering from general wasting (the result of
neglect, improper feeding and want of care), or from disease
(four being actually in a moribund condition), and 22 per
cent, though not suffering from wasting and disease, being,
nevertheless, in the majority of cases, below par constitutionally.
Reviewing all the facts, there is only one conclusion to be
drawn, viz. : the necessity for the Council to advertise the
Milk Depot as much as possible, and to spare no trouble to
bring its advantages within the reach of all ratepayers and
others, living within the Borough, who may wish to share
them. It is unfair that only the infants in the neighbourhood
of the Milk Depot (Marsh Ward) should benefit.
There are several ways in which this improvement may be
effected, as follows:—
(1) Opening of Distributing Centres in selected parts of
the Borough, e.g., at the Free Libraries, or elsewhere;
(2) Delivering of the milk by the Council at consumers'
homes;
(3) Arranging with milk sellers to sell the Council's
milk.
The number of infants being weekly fed is, at the date of
this Report, 70, and whilst this number is fairly satisfactory,
having regard to the comparatively short time that the Milk
Depot has been open, and to the opposition that was experienced
to its establishment at the onset, it can be, and
should be, increased by advertisement or otherwise. Personally,
I am of opinion that the best method would be to
open distributing centres, and to make some arrangement
by which the milk could be delivered by the Council at such
distributing centres throughout the Borough. In this way
several creches could be supplied, and the milk brought
within the reach of all Lambeth ratepayers (and others)
requiring the same, instead of the supply being limited, as