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149
Appendix.
INFANTS' MILK DEPOT.
Full particulars as to the establishment, objects, mode of working,
and apparatus, of the Infants' Milk Depot have been given in two
previous reports, the first one being separately printed in 1900, and
the second forming part of the Annual Report of 1907.
308 Infants were supplied with milk in 1908, compared with 313 in
1907.
The actual number of children being fed at one time averaged 110,
varying for the most part between 110 and 130. This average was
reached at the close of 1907, and agrees very closely with the number
given by your Medical Officer of Health as the maximum likely to
make use of a Depot. It is estimated that 600 infants under one
in this Borough are hand-fed, so that the Depot provides for about
one-fifth of these.
Duration op Feeding.—It is satisfactory to find that there were
fewer cases last year in which the milk was tried and given up in a
few days. 207 children discontinuing the milk in 1908 had been on
the depot for more than one month, and only 46 were on less than one
month. 99 had the milk for over six months. The average duration
of feeding was five months. This indicates that for the most part,
mothers obtained the milk, not as a temporary fancy, but from a conviction
of its utility which was confirmed by trial; for the Depot milk
costs parents more than ordinary fresh milk and preserved milk.
The table (see below) of reasons for discontinuing the milk shows
why the duration of feeding was curtailed in most cases. Only 42,
or one-sixth of the total discontinuing, did so on account of the baby
having reached an age not to need the milk. 56 mothers left the
Borough, and 56 gave up the milk on account of the expense. No milk
is supplied to any mother who gets a week behind in her payments,
and the strict application of this rule led to many infants having to
taken off the Depot.