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Appendix III.
Infantile Diarrhœa.
This disease being now very prevalent in consequence of the warm
weather, mothers and others having the care of children are strongly
advised to attend to the following rules:—
1. Infantile or Summer diarrhoea is infectious, the infection being
contained in what passes from the body.
2. The infection is usually taken in by the mouth with the food,
which is contaminated by flies, dust, and dirt conveyed by fingers.
3. Children under two years are most affected, especially those fed
with bottles. The directions "How to Feed Baby" should be carefully
studied and carried out; a copy can be obtained at the Health Office,
Maxey Road.
4. Babies nursed entirely at the breast seldom have diarrhoea.
Children should be always nursed at the breast, if possible, till they are
nine months old. Mother's milk is far the best, and prevents diarrhoea
and other diseases.
5. If, however, this is impossible, the next best food is fresh cow's
milk, or milk and barley water. The milk should be boiled as soon as it
comes, and then stood, in a clean jug with a piece of wet muslin over it,
in a cool place.
6. To make barley water, put two good teaspoonfuls of washed pearl
barley in a pint of cold water, boil down to two-thirds of a pint, and strain.
This must be kept in a clean jug and covered with muslin like the milk.
7. Children of two months should have milk and barley water in equal
quantities; at six months there should be three parts of milk to one of
barley water, and at eight months the milk may be given pure. The food
should be warmed before being given and half a teaspoonful of white sugar
added.
8. All other moist and liquid food should be kept covered with a wet
cloth or wet muslin in a cool, clean, well-ventilated place.
9. Bottles with tubes should never be used; in France they are called
baby-killers.
10. Medical attendance should be at once obtained for children a Sected
with diarrhoea, however slight.
11. The excreta passed by the sick child should be immediately covered
with disinfectants (to be obtained at the Public Health Office) and emptied
down the w.c. Soiled napkins and clothes should be at once soaked in
water containing a disinfectant, and left there till they are washed.
12. The mother's or nurse's hands should be always washed every time
they are soiled, and especially before preparing baby's food.
13. Infants, their clothes, utensils, living room, and back yards,
must be kept scrupulously clean.
14. All animal and vegetable refuse, waste food, dirt and slops of all
kinds should be quickly removed from the house and covered up in the
dustpail or emptied down the drains.
(Signed) SIDNEY DAVIES, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
August, 1904.