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17 [1910
quantity, it becomes a matter of great moment to the nation In these circumstances
it was no wonder that the Notification of Births Act, 1907, was
passed by Parliament Its object, and its sole object, was to save lives by
enabling Sanitary Authorities to get into immediate touch with the mothers
so that they might receive early instruction as to the care of their young
progeny. It was felt that if this were done many of the lives now lost would
be saved. For some years prior to the passing of this Act, several sanitary
authorities throughout the country had appointed trained women, mostly nurses,
to visit mothers on the occasion of the birth of their children, and to instruct them
as to the best means of rearing their infants. Their usefulness was at once
recognised, and, therefore, their success was immediate. These women were
soon known as health visitors, and have now become a recognised weapon in
the armoury of public health authorities for the prevention of premature deaths
among infants. They have been recognised by Parliament, by the Local
Government Board, by the London County Council, and by every great authority
in the country as being not only a useful, but a necessary instrument for
such zvork ; and, indeed, the London County Council in order to encourage
the appointment of health visitors in the county which it governs, obtained
powers from Parliament in their General Powers Act of 1908 (Section 6) to
allow any Sanitary Authority in London to appoint suitable women to be
known as Health Visitors for the purpose of giving to persons advice as to
the proper nurture, care and management of young children, and the promotion
of cleanliness, and of discharging such other duties, if any, as may be assigned
to them in accordance with the provisions of this section They also obtained
power at the same time to pay out of the county funds any sum or sums by
way of contribution towards the salaries of any persons so appointed, not exceeding
in the case of any one such person one half of her salary .
Owing to the fact that the majority of the Council pledged themselves at
the last election not to appoint health visitors, not one of the mothers in Islington
has been visited during the last two years on the birth of their children and no
words of comfort or advice have been given to them. It is true that a card of instructions
has been sent to each mother, but everyone with experience knows that
documents, especially official documents, are for the most part thrown on one side
Fortunately this is not true in every case, for in several instances that have come
to the knowledge of the Medical Officer of Health the advice given on these
cards of instruction has been highly appreciated, and has been passed on to
others, but he also knows that in most cases it has been almost entirely
neglected. He, therefore, again advises the Council, as strongly as he can, to
appoint a sufficient number of Health Visitors to carry out the intentions of the
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