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To sum up:—a large proportion of infantile
mortality is due to want of cleanliness, ignorance,
improper feeding, and negligence during or subsequent
to the course of the ailments common to
children—measles, whooping cough, etc., and I am
sufficiently sanguine to believe that much benefit
would assuredly follow if some or all of the following
suggestions could be acted on :—
1. The teaching of the principles of Hygiene in
our Public Elementary Schools.
2. Lectures on nursing, with instruction in
Hygiene and the Rearing of Infants, to be given in
the districts where the working classes mostly live,
at very nominal fees, and under the direction and
control of Lady Health Visitors.
3. The institution of Voluntary Lady Health
Visitors having a knowledge of sanitary principles,
who would distribute leaflets to mothers and householders,
and personally impart instruction on
cleanliness and health matters.
4. Or the appointment of a salaried Lady
Health Visitor, properly qualified, to act in the
same manner as the Parish Nurse at present does.
She could take a larger district, and under proper
supervision could obtain official information as to
births, etc., and offer invaluable advice and assistance
in suitable cases. I would commend this latter
proposal to the many kindly disposed and philanthropic
residents hereabouts, who by pecuniary help
could readily contrive to bring it about.
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