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1911]
32
at home within six hours; and in 18 cases by other persons. In 115 cases no
information could be obtained for the reasons stated below
Information refused.
Wrong address. (No such house, former address given and
present one not traceable).
Many futile calls made nobody at home.
House empty.
Child's death before registration.
The fact that in 559 instances medical men did not comply with the act
is regrettable, and would be still more so if the Council employed health visitors,
as they ought to have done long since. It is presumed, however, that in those
instances where doctors continued in attendance after the birth they gave
their patients suitable instructions for the rearing of their infants. The
notifications in preceding years by doctors, midwives and parents, etc., are
shown in the following statement:—
By
Medical
Practitioners.
By
Midwives.
By Parents
and
other Persons.
Total
Notifications.
1908 483 974 1,754 3,211
(From July 16th)
1909 988 2,312 3,683 6,983
1910 1,011 3,271 3,125 7,407
1911 1,048 3,412 2,772 7,232
Educational Measures.—As soon as the birth of each child is ascertained,
whether through the Notification Act or from the District Registrars' returns,
literature of an educational character is at once forwarded to the mother by post.
It is printed in booklet form, and contains instructions and hints on nearly every
matter which it is necessary for a mother to know so that her child may be
brought up in a healthy manner. There is no doubt that these leaflets have been
appreciated by the more educated mothers, but unfortunately this has not been
the case with the illiterates, who rarely read them, although there are no mothers
who require instruction more than they. These people can only be reached
by health visitors, who by their tact and training soon prevail on the majority of
them to take a real interest in their babes, so that many afterwards turn out
most excellent mothers. This is the universal experience of Medical Officers
of Health. In Islington, of course, such mothers cannot be reached, because
the necessary machinery is not provided.