A special report on an infants' milk depot, established under the auspices of the Finsbury Social Workers' Association / by George Newman.

  • Finsbury (London, England). Public Health Committee.
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A special report on an infants' milk depot, established under the auspices of the Finsbury Social Workers' Association / by George Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    'Hie commencement nl‘ tlie Social Workers’ Association furnished the occasion for the estal)lishment of the hinslmry Depot, and the pages whicli folloAV record the main facts res]-)ecting the practical working of it. Here it is only necessary to say that the work entailed was iindertaken by a voluntary Oonrmittee of medical men, assisted by some lady visitors, and that the object was to establish a Depot on a small scale, under ]n*oper contiol and on satisfactory lines, for a few' * children, rather than to w’ork a larger institution for a considerable number. The Avhole of the necessary funds wmre subscribed by a few' friends (>t the enterprise. The ju'inciples by which the Medical Committee Avished to be guided Avere—(o) absolute control of the milk, and the avoidance of the serious fallacy of sterilising unclean milk ; (b) medical supervision of the entire management of the Depot, and of the infants using the milk ; (c) a discriminating and careful distribution of the milk only to infants Avho could not be breast-fed ; and (d) the systematic study of the effect of the milk on the children.The Committee desired to make the method as individual as possible, ajid in no Avay to lessen the responsibility of the mother. It is evident that these are not easy principles to carry out, and many difficulties have been encountered. On the Avhole, hoAvever, the results of the year’s AA'orking have been satisfactory. In concluding this IntnKluctory Note, it may be said that the Finsbury Depot follows more closely the French model than any English Depot at present established in that there is medical suiDervision, and the Depot has been carried on as a voluntary Society. Further, the.milk is prepared, and, if necessary sterilised on the farm. This latter point and medical supervision seem to be of essential iiu])ortance. ® The writer may ])erliaps be allowed to admit that his early belief in the (‘tlicacy of Infants’ Milk Depots did not receive jnuch eneoniagement from the simple fact that these four principles, among othei’s, did not appear to be practised in the Depots of which he had know’ledge.
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