98 EEPOKT OF THE No. 55 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Being the Story of the Influence of Infants' Milk Depots in 

 Lessening Infantile Mortality in' other Countries and some Fig- 

 ures to show that more should be done along these lines in 

 Ontario. 



Infantile feeding and infantile mortality are subjects so closely allied as to be 

 inseparable. Cow's milk is the chief factor in artificial infantile feeding. Artificial 

 feeding has become so deplorably general that experts affirm that the great majority 

 of deaths under one year are from among those who for one reason or another are 

 denied the nourishment nature intended. To these fundamental facts more and 

 more thought and study has been devoted during the past few years in Europe, in 

 England and in the neighbouring Republic. The results have been so illuminating 

 in showing this to be a very important phase of the milk question that we feel it 

 incumbent upon us to digress briefly from the general problem to call attention 

 to some facts and figures in reference to Ontario which must be regarded as strik- 

 ing, if not startling. 



DEVELOPMENT OF MILK DEPOTS. 



This* branch of milk reform has been worked out through infant milk depots 

 and kindred agencies, and the story of their history and accomplishments as set 

 forth in current literature is of interest and importance. They are of French 

 origin, being known in France as " consultation de nourrissons " and " goutte de 

 lait." As first established in 1893, the " consultations " were connected with Paris' 

 hospitals', and hence the "goutte de lait" more closely represents what is under- 

 stood now by an infants' milk depot, and they were not started until 1894 by Dr. 

 Leon Dufour at Fecamp. In the meantime, in 1893 ? Mr. Nathan Straus had 

 opened his first depot in New York to dispense his scientifically pasteurized milk. 

 It was not until 1899, ten years ago, that the idea was introduced in England, the 

 town of St. Helen's in Lancashire being the first to adopt it. Once introduced, the 

 idea was quickly taken up by Liverpool, Battersea, Finsbury and other large centres. 

 During the past five or six years there has been remarkable activity along 

 those lines'. Over a hundred places in France are now served by these depots, 

 which have also been established or extended in the cities of almost every country 

 in Europe. In 1906, a conference of health authorities and others interested in 

 the reduction of infantile mortality was held in London, England, and at it a 

 unanimous resolution was passed recognizing the importance of milk depots and 

 urging legislation to enable sanitary authorities "to establish or support depots 

 for the supply of pure or modified or sterilized milk and to defray any cost out of 

 the monies available for public health purposes." In the last session of the British 

 House of Commons, Hon. John Burns introduced a Bill granting this request, but 

 action was* deferred until next session. 



DIFFERENCE IN DETAILS. 



While they are all guided by the same underlying principles described herein 

 in reference to Rochester and New York, they differ as to details. In Europe, they 

 are supported chiefly by private philanthropy; in England, partially by private 



