CHILD'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 156, 2 July 1919, Page 4

CHILD'S DEATH.

The death of a eix-months-old infant was the subject of an inquest held, before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., at the Newton Police 'Station yesterday afternoon. The child was of illigitimate birth, and had been boarded out by the State. The evidence of Mary Helen Hawkins, of No. 6, Dean Street, Arch Hill, was to the effect that the child was boarded at her home under the Infants Act, I'JOS, from March 9 last. The baby, a male, wae then six weeks old and was in good health, although in April he had an attack of bronchitis. When lie had another attack of the disease in June ho wae attended by Dr. Sweet, and Hiss (arnie, visiting nurse attached to the Education Department. He did not become altogether well, and on Sunday night refused to take food. The child's condition became worse until he died. ye3terday morning. Witness stated in answer to the Coroner that the food given the infant consisted of milk arrowroot biscuit and condensed milKThis diet was continued until about a month ago. In April he was given bariey water and cow's natural milk. The child was given two tins of malted, food mixed with tinned milk, and on thiej he seemed to thrive. When ehe w&S unable to obtain further supplies ot malted food, she gave him malted milk and jelly. She did not feed Mm in the usual way on fresh milk because the nurse had been giving him tinned milk, and witness did not like to change it. Nurse O'Hegan, at whose home the child was born on January 6, said that the infant was quite healthy. He was fed from the first week after birth on barley water with condensed milk, with cream added. At five weeks, biscuits were crushed in hie food. After the barley water diet commenced his condition appeared to grow worse. She did not suggest a correction of the diet. Margaret Carnie, a* nurse connected with the Education Department, stated that ehe saw the child four times. In answer to the Coroner, she said that on the lirst visit she advised the discontinuance of biscuits, but as February 1 and March were not good months for fresh milk, 6he advised the continuance jof condensed milk. Later, ehe advised barley water and fresh milk. Dr. G. B. Sweet said tuat when he visited the child on Monday last it seemed very wasted and had a feeble cry. There were signs of rickets and general wasting. He wae of opinion that I death was due f o heart failure, following rickete and malnutrition. To the Coroner: He did not think the j diet given was a suitable one for an ! infant. The child was being fed largely jon sugar in the condensed milk and 'starch foods, such as milk biscuits. The public should know, he said, that these biscuits are made ol sugar, water, ar.d flour, with very little ; arrowroot. The malted food and the !sago were al?o starchy. Children or euch diet often developed rickets, witti malnutrition and a disposition to euffei from bronchitis. The Coroner reserved his finding and any rider as to the diet. In his opinion (Mrs. Hawkins had done her beet for the ;dinar" -<■>*"< *«« k>wqq«

INQUEST EVIDENCE ON DIET, j I

TINNED MILK AND BISCUITS.