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than others, and this will necessarily affect the local distribution
as indicated by notification, and consequently too much reliance
must not be placed on the figures given for the Wards.
The highest number of cases proportional to population were
in St. Nicholas, Glyndon, Central and Eltham Wards, and the
lowest in the St. Mary's, Herbert and Burrage Wards. The
deaths, however, were most (proportionally), in River (North),
Glyndon and St. Nicholas Wards.
Table III. shows the condition of the 366 houses affected as
regards crowding and cleanliness. 49 houses were found to have
more than two persons to a room, and 92 were found to have
more than lj persons to a room ; 71, or 19 per cent, were found
more or less dirty.
Table IV. shows the manner of feeding of all cases under one
year of age. Only 12, or 6 per cent., were fed on the breast
alone, and 28, or 14 per cent., on breast and other food. The
remaining 80 per cent, were nearly all fed on fresh cow's milk or
Nestle's condensed milk. Thus, as in 1905, 20 per cent, were fed
wholly or partially on the breast. An inquiry made in 1904,
showed that of average children 82 per cent, were fed wholly or
partially on the breast. It follows that an artificially fed child is
18 times more likely to be affected with diarrhoea than a child fed
wholly or partially on the breast. In my Report on summer
diarrhoea previously referred to, I estimated that an artificially
fed child was 45 times more likely to die of diarrhoea than a
breast fed child.
Table V. shows the cause of weaning of 185 cases which were
weaned under the age of six months. It appears from this Table
that only 5 children were weaned on account of the mother
going to work. 142 children were weaned owing to the failure
of the milk, from death or illness of the mother.
Action Taken.—All the cases notified were visited; mostly by
the Lady Inspectors, and a large number also by myself. A