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42
If, then, a wholesome, clean and sterile food is procurable for
the child, Diarrhoea and Tubercular diseases should fast decline.
But the mother has a serious responsibility—to see that the vessels
she uses for the child's food are scrupulously clean, and that the
food itself is protected from contamination. Unfortunately, the mothers
in many instances, have but a primitive idea of cleanliness, and if
they are not to be allowed to hinder the good that is proposed to be
done on behalf of their young, it will be necessary for themselves
and their homes to be kept under observation.
The two Health Visitors in your employment have done a splendid
work in relation to the care of infants. Their visitation at the homes
has enabled the mothers to acquire much useful information, and at
the School for Mothers the practical and systematic teaching by the
Visiting Doctors, the Voluntary Workers and the Lady Inspectors has
undoubtedly been effectual in saving many lives. It may be safely
asserted that no baby in Tottenham whose mother seeks the help of
the School for Mothers and its workers is lost, if by any means at
their disposal it can be saved. But the means at the disposal of the
School workers is limited. There is only one centre, and the funds
have been derived hitherto from voluntary contributions, and from the
Women's Imperial Health Association, whose generosity has contributed
largely to the success of the Institution. The Board of Education,
recognising the good work being done, made the School the modest
grant of £36 last year. The School is very properly situated in the
Ward where the Infantile Death Rate is highest, namely 112.0 per
1,000. But the Middle and Lower Wards usually have rates
above that of Tottenham as a whole, and centres established in these
Wards would find no lack of useful work.
There is another direction in which the School for Mothers is
restricted. It can claim from the Board of Education a grant in
respect only of the educational work carried on there, the medical
advice given being merely incidental. The Local Government Board's
scheme, however, includes the medical supervision and treatment of
such children being under school age as require it. The established
School for Mothers immediately suggests itself as a suitable centre
from which to administer the benefits that the Local Government Board
would have us dispense.