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The birth-rate for Lambeth (Parish and Borough) has been
recently slowly, but steadily, declining—a decline not peculiar to
Lambeth, nor even to England, but to be found in nearly all
civilised countries.
Notification of Births Act.
The Notification of Births Act, 1907, was adopted throughout
the Borough, and came into operation on March 9th, 1908.
Since the Act came into force, a total of 51,395 births have
been notified up to the end of 1915, viz. : 3,473 in 1908 (10 months),
5,143 in 1909, 6,703 in 1910, 7,094 in 1911, 7,336 in 1912, 7,158 in
1913, 7,397 in 1914, and 7091 in 1915.
The notified cases are visited, or such other measures taken
in connection therewith, in the way of distributing pamphlets, etc.,
as are found necessary. In the cases of notified infants who are
visited, the methods of feeding are carefully inquired into and
instruction given as required, breast-feeding being encouraged as
far as possible.
The mothers visited are pleased to receive advice as to the
proper feeding, clothing, and management generally of their infants,
and re-visits paid shew that such advice is acted upon. The
systematic re-visiting of newly-born infants is important. It
is impossible to give satisfactory statistics of the educational value
of the visiting of houses wherein births have been notified, but there
is no doubt as to the existence of such value—a result that would,
naturally, be increased by systematic re-visiting in addition to the
first visiting.
In connection with Child Welfare, mention must be made of
the number of voluntary agencies that are carrying out excellent
work throughout the Borough, supplementing the work of the
Council's officials. Having regard to the large number of births
notified yearly, voluntary help is a sine qua non with the present
Official Staff and a scheme is being prepared by which such voluntary
agencies will be recognised by the Council.
Returns of all Births (with addresses of mothers), registered
in Lambeth, are obtained from the District Registrars.
A list of all notified births is sent to the London County
Council weekly in pursuance of sub-section 5, of section 2, of the