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65
Many mothers are persuaded by neighbours that the baby is " not satisfied,"
and that mother's milk needs supplementing by artificial food
One of the chief uses of health visitors is to counteract mischievous advice of
this type.
When partial or entire artificial feeding cannot be avoided the artificial food is
often prepared under uncleanly conditions, gastric disturbances and diarrhoea being
produced.
Artificial feeding also carries with it the fact that the majority of infants thus
fed are being slowly starved in respect of the essential fat in their food. The
majority of mothers are ignorant of the relative nutritive value and digestibility of
different foods, and health visitors are needed to explain such points in detail.
Ignorance of the mother is commonly associated with carelessness and indifference,
the true explanation of which is a lack of appreciation of the extent to
which infant health depends on the steady adoption of simple hygienic precautions.
It may be of interest to give the history of the movement for the appointment
of a Female Health Visitor on the staff of the Public Health Department in this
Borough before considering the advisability of making another appointment.
In 1899, before the formation of the Borough Council, the late Limehouse
District Board of Works resolved to appoint a Health Visitor to instruct mothers in
the proper care of infants, and thus endeavour to reduce the high infantile mortality
in the district, provided the Local Government Board paid half her salary. The
Local Government Board, while sympathising with the objects of the District Board,
could not sanction the payment of a portion of her salary. The project therefore
fell through.
In October, 1902, a Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee presented a
report which was adopted by the full Committee, and submitted to the Council on
November 12th, 1902. The Public Health Committee recommended that two Female
Health Visitors be appointed for a period of two years at a salary of £100 per annum.
Their duties were to include visiting the homes of the poor, and give advice upon
matters of home hygiene, viz., the proper feeding and clothing of infants. The
Health Visitors were to visit houses in districts where Diarrhoea, Measles, Whooping
Cough, etc., were prevalent, and give instructions as to the necessary and proper
care of the sick, and to act generally under the Medical Officer of Health. The
recommendation of the Public Health Committee was rejected by the Council by
29 votes to 17.
The matter was taken up by a society outside the Council, and a lady was
appointed for five years, her services being paid for by a private individual. This
Health Visitor worked for three years in that part of the Borough known as