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Appendix I.
INFANTS' .MILK DEPOT.
The Infants' Milk Depot was opened on November 5th, 1906, at the
old Plumstead Vestry Office in .Maxey Road.
The object of the Depot is to provide- the best substitute for
mother's milk to those children whose mothers are unable to nourish
them at the breast. The Depot is not a milk-shop where anyone can
buy milk ; it does not sell milk to anyone as such ; what it does is to
undertake to provide, under medical supervision, the best substitute
for mother's milk to infants requiring it, at a fixed charge per week.
The milk is not sold by the pint; but payment is made according to
the age of the infants, viz., Is. 6d. per week to -children under six
months old ; 2s. to those from six months to twelve months ; and
2s. 6d. to those over twelve months.
The Milk Depot aims at reducing the excessive infant mortality
which has been found to be due to hand-feeding, especially to
feeding infants on condensed milk.
It may be said at once that the Depot has been an unqualified
success, the numbers taking the milk having increased beyond
expectations. Excellent milk has been obtained within the Borough.
The planning of the rooms and the apparatus installed have worked
most satisfactorily, and great credit is due to Miss Petty and Miss
-Bagsliaw and staff of the Depot for the way in which the work has
been carried out.
Admission to the Depot. When anyone applies for an infant to
be fed from the Depot, if a doctor's certificate is receved, the milk is
supplied at once. But otherwise, Miss FitzGerald, Woman Inspector,
visits the house and enquires into the circumstances. If the child is
still being fed from the breast the mother is encouraged to continue
this and advised as to her own diet. Sometimes she is asked to come
to the Depot with the baby and the latter is weighed before and after