Infantile Mortality and Milk Depots. By G. F. McCleary, M.D.
(P. S. King and Co. 6s. net.)—Dr. McCleary gives us some striking statistics. The death-rates, to begin with, are not a little startling. The general death-rate in the five years 1851-56 was 22.6 per 1,000; in 1904 it was 161 (having fallen to 15.4 in 1903, an exceptionally wet, and therefore healthy, season). The deaths under one year in 1,000 births were 156, in 1904 they were 148, whereas if this mortality had decreased in proportion they would have been 1063. The question is—first, what is the cause why the good result has not followed? and second, can anything be done by way of remedy? There is a table of the causes of death, and this is highly interesting, the most striking figure Coming under the head of " Diarrhceal Diseases." The table includes twenty-six years (1876-1901). In the first thirteen years the average mortality was 16/, in the last 26'1. These figures bear directly on food. Under the head of " Convulsions " the figures are 20.8 and 18'11, showing a decrease possibly due to greater care and knowledge. " Pneumonia and Bronchitis " show 26.1 and 25.7,— results curiously similar, and making the increase under the first heading of greater significance. And what are the practical results ? First, that breast-feeding is by far the best ; and second, that between cow's milk and condensed milk there is not much to choose, though Dr. McCleary inclines to favour the former as against the latter. But we must be content with calling attention to a very valuable book. It contains, we should add, details of successful systems followed abroad.
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