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are registered within the first six weeks of life, but in view of one's
attempts to deal with the prevention of deaths of very young
children, it is found that the period which is generally allowed to
elapse between the birth of the child and the registration of its
birth seriously militates against the success of any scheme for
dealing with this question; accordingly, representations have
been made from time to time, and continue to be made, with a
view to reducing this period; up to the present, however, no
alteration has been made.
Fortunately, it has been found possible in other ways to
obtain earlier information respecting the births of infants, and in
this respect the London County Council are deserving of our
thanks for the steps they have taken in endeavouring to obtain
from all registered Midwives lists of the cases they have attended
from week to week, which lists are then abstracted and copies
supplied to the Medical Officers of Health of the respective
districts in which the Midwives have attended the cases
enumerated. In this way, since the beginning of November, I
have received intimations from week to week from them respecting
births having occurred at 106 different addresses situated in this
Borough. Immediately upon the receipt of this information, the
circular issued by this Council with respect to Infantile Mortality,
and advice as to Infant Feeding is forwarded to each of these
addresses, it being hoped that in this way some benefit would
be derived both by the parents and the child.
DEATHS.
The total number of deaths registered during the period was
1,370, of which 705 were males, and 665 females. The crude
death rate for the Borough of 13.27 per 1,000, compares