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24
Summer Diarrhcea.
In the early summer of 1914 an effort was made by the
Public Health Department to reduce the mortality amongst
infants from Summer Diarrhoea.
The following card of instructions was posted to the
parents of every infant born during the previous calendar
year, and copies of the instructions were prominently displayed
as an advertisement in the local Press:—
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST SUMMER DIARRHCEA IN
INFANTS.
1. Hot weather is very likely to cause fatal
Diarrhcea in infants.
2. Infants fed by hand are more likely to suffer
from Diarrhoea than infants fed on the breast.
Infants should not be weaned during hot
weather.
3. All milk must be boiled before use.
4. All vessels used for storing milk must be kept
scrupulously clean, covered with a clean cloth to
keep out the flies and dust, and scalded out after
use.
5. Feeding bottles and teats should be boiled after
use and kept clean in cold water.
6. FLIES generally carry the infection of
Diarrhœa.
7. Flypapers and other traps should be used, all
food should be kept covered and kitchen refuse
should be at once burnt or placed in a covered
dustbin.
8. When asleeg, a muslin curtain should be spread
over the baby to prevent flies settling on the
child's mouth.