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METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF WOOLWICH.
INFANTS MILK DEPOT.
The Infants' Milk Depot has been established to diminish the
high Infant Mortality which is due to improper feeding of Infants.
In Woolwich during the past five years 119 out of every 1000
children born have died before the completion of their first year.
In Derby the Infant Mortality is about 150 per 1000, and from
an enquiry, extending over 3 years, it has been found that while
the mortality of the breast-fed children was only 70 per 1000, that
of the children brought up by hand was 198, or nearly three times
as great.
In Woolwich about 3,500 children are born every year and
about 400 of these die in the first year.
An enquiry has shown that the great majority, 80 per cent., are
fed at the breast for at least six months. About one-fifth, or 700
per year are brought up by hand, and the experience in Derby, as
well as that in Woolwich, shows that the mortality amongst these
hand-fed children is tremendous. If it is the same in Woolwich as
in Derby, one-fifth of the hand-fed children, or 140, die every year
before they are 12 months old, of whom it may be reasonably said
92 might have lived if they had been properly fed. The Infants'
Milk Depot will, it is hoped, go a long way towards obviating
this yearly sacrifice of infant life. It must be remembered too, that
for every child that dies in its first year there are probably about
9 children who live and grow up with injured health and
diminished strength. The same means which it is hoped may
ultimately save 90 lives every year, will also increase the health and
strength of some 800 children, and enable them to become useful
citizens instead of a burden upon the community.
Diligent enquiry by the Medical Officer of Health has shown
that of 700 children who are every year brought up by hand in the
Borough, the vast majority are necessarily so fed, the reason of
this being the death, weakness or illness of the mother, making it
impossible to suckle.
Now it is well recognised, and the above figures clearly show,
that mothers' milk is far the best food for infants, and, if it were
possible, the most satisfactory way of diminishing infant mortality
from hand-feeding would be some means which would enable
mothers to nurse their own children. Though by advice and
instruction something may be done in this direction, no practical
means are known which are likely to materially increase the ability
of the mother to perform her natural function. Meanwhile the only
alternative seems to be to provide a substitute which shall be
"second best" to mothers' milk. The milk which is going to be
prepared at this Depot is the best substitute at present known.
For many years people who had the means have used specially