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11
Recommendations.
Since breast fed children for the most part escape the
disease, it follows that breast feeding should be practised as
far as possible. The enquiry shows however that in this
Borough mothers with few exceptions, suckle their infants
as far as they are able, hence there is no opportunity
for much improvement in this direction. The exceptions
are frequently mothers who have recently lost their husbands,
or whose husbands are ill and unable to work.
When feeding is by bottle or by hand, the main indication
for avoiding the disease is the protection of the milk and
other food from contamination in the home of the patient.
When diarrhoea occurs in a family, the same precautions
should be taken as with Enteric Fever, viz: isolation,
disinfection, and absolute cleanliness. Isolation is seldom
practised, involving as it does not only a separate room but
a separate attendant; but cleanliness is of most importance,
and if scrupulously carried out probably isolation is not
necessary. Careful disinfection of excreta should be practised,
not only for the protection of the family affected but also to
avoid the risk of flies conveying the infection to neighbouring
households.
It is necessary first to know of the existence of cases as
soon as they occur, it will then be possible for a Lady
Inspector to visit the houses and give the necessary directions
as to isolation, cleanliness and disinfection. As fatal cases
are exceptional, except in the Summer quarter, I only suggest
that cases should be notified during July, August and September,
and only the first case in a family need be notified. This
will much diminish the cost of notification. It is to be feared
that in many cases no medical man is called in until the case
is serious, but it is to be expected that a large number may
be received in time to take precautions.