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12
A third and perhaps the most hopeful way of avoiding
the infection of zymotic enteritis in infants, is by the provision
of milk specially prepared so as to be free from germs, and
placed in bottles, one of which is sufficient for each meal.
The bottle is not opened until the child is fed, and then all
that is not consumed at each meal is thrown away, so
that the risk of the milk being contaminated in the home is
reduced to a minimum. The establishment of a sterilized
and humanized milk depot is an important means of combating
summer diarrhoea; it has been found where such depots
exist that children are comparatively exempt from diarrhœa
while receiving the specially prepared and bottled milk.
I therefore make the following recommendations:—
(1). That the distribution of leaflets educating mothers
in the care and feeding of infants be continued and extended.
(2). That the usual payment be made to medical
practitioners for the notification of first cases of zymotic
enteritis during the Summer quarter.
(3). That a Municipal milk depot be established to provide
pure milk in bottles containing sufficient for one meal
only, as soon as the legal powers now being sought are
obtained.
(4). That the Guardians be asked to give such adequate
relief to all chargeable mothers having infants under nine
months, as will obviate the necessity of their going out to
work, and that the attention of the relieving officers be
specially called to the importance of mothers suckling their
infants.