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Report on the work of the Health Visitor.
During the year 1912 the number of births visited by the Council's Health
Visitor was 1,275. Of this number 33 died, and the parents of 14 removed before
the first visit was made. In nine instances an incorrect address had been given.
155 cases were attended by doctors, the remainder were attended by midwives.
The majority of the infants were breast-fed entirely at the time of the first
visit of the Health Visitor; but it was found at subsequent visits that artificial
feeding, either partly or entirely, was resorted to after the first month or so. At the
first visit 1,041 infants were breast-fed, 50 were artificially fed and 128 were partly
breast and partly bottle-fed
Nestle's Milk was more generally used than cow's milk. Boiled bread, teabiscuits
and oatmeal were sometimes given to supplement breast-feeding.
229 were first-born children ; the mothers were more anxious to learn and
appreciated the instructions given than the mothers who had several children.
Instruction as to the necessity for cleanliness, fresh air, suitable clothing and regularity
of feeding was given. Where feeding bottles were used the boat-shape bottle
was recommended as being easier to cleanse than one with a long tube.
227 infants died before they were a year old, which is equivalent to an infantile
mortality of 125 per 1,000 births. If the 33 deaths of infants who died immediately
after birth and before the first visit was made were excluded, tne infantile mortality
for the area would be 110 per 1,000 births.