View report page

33
Your representative stated that he had information that
Miss Whitworth was carrying out this work, but I failed to
elicit who your informant was.
I was in a position to state that up to the present Miss
"Whitworth has not visited homes where births have occurred,
but I frankly pointed out that it was my intention that she
should do so in the near future when we had made the
necessary arrangements.
I desire now to point out that for over a year we have been
endeavouring to obtain details of births which take place in the
Borough, in order that my Council might take preventive
measures in regard to infant mortality, which I hold has been a
blot upon sanitary administration, it being principally due to
the lamentable ignorance of parents in the feeding of their
offspring, and I hold further that it is the duty of all Sanitary
Authorities to take preventive measures. It is far better for
them to take steps to reduce the mortality rather than cause
visits to be made to homes where deaths, preventable deaths,
have taken place.
The Local Government Board sanctioned the appointment
of Miss Whitworth, and among the list of duties which they
approved was the investigation of infant mortality. I submit
that the duties we propose that Miss Whitworth should carry
out in visiting a selected number of homes where births have
occurred, with a view of giving information in regard to the
feeding of children, may be held to be preventive measures in
regard to infant mortality, and may be considered to be within
the duties above referred to. Of course Miss Whitworth is
only visiting such homes as the Medical Officer of Health may
select from the list of births registered, and if it is found that a
woman sanitary inspector can carry out these duties it is my
intention, if necessary, to ask my Council to increase the staff
of such Inspectors.
Unfortunately, at the time of Miss Whitworth's appointment
we had not overcome the obstacles raised by the RegistrarGeneral's
Department to our being supplied with a list of the
births registered in the Borough. The Inspector's visits, therefore,
could only be made after the deaths occurred. The
obstruction has now been removed, we are supplied with a
list of births, and we are anxious to take preventive measures.
I am somewhat surprised to find that further difficulties will
be raised by the London County Council in regard to what
I consider a mere technicality.
My Committee are meeting on Tuesday next, and I shall
be glad to hear whether in the event of Miss Whitworth being