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grain which had gone sour to be dealt with, I think the cause of
complaint would be minimised.
We also received a complaint of the grinding of mica, which,
was carried out practically in the open air, and which led to a
deposit of fine powder of this substance in the gardens of houses in
the neighbourhood. A prosecution was ordered and successfully taken.
The question of the adoption of the Notification of Births Act was
discussed by the Public Health Committee, who also received a
deputation from the Lambeth Division of the British Medical
Association urging them not to adopt the Act. Reports were submitted
by the Town Clerk setting out the provisions of the Act, and
also by myself, of which the following is a copy; but I have
brought up to date the statistics relating to the comparison between
Camberwell and those districts in London where health visitors
have been appointed.
January 17 th, 1908.
GENTLEMEN, —Granted that ignorance on the part of the mothers is one of the
chief factors in determining infant mortality, it would appear logically to follow that
the appointment of health visitors, who would visit mothers soon after their confinement
and advise them as to the feeding and general caring for their infants, must be
of advantage.
Since the greatest mortality occurs in the first week of life, even if we exclude
premature births and congenital defects, it is obvious that the first visit must be
paid as early as possible. The first would be paid when either the doctor or a midwife
is in attendance and still in charge of the mother, and it is possible that friction
and difficulty may arise in this regard. With many Boroughs the appointment of
health visitors has been of recent date, and those who advocate the appointment of
such officials say that it must be many years before the advantages are manifest.
But for myself I cannot agree with this view. It is not easy to see why, ten years
hence, provided the machinery is the same now as it will be then, a good result
should be then seen that cannot equally well appear at the present. The good effect
of the advice should begin as soon as it is given and followed, and if experience
should lead to efficacious methods other than health visitors, we cannot appeal to
those functionaries as being of great value.
There can be no doubt that a very large number of medical officers of health
who have had experience of the subject have pronounced strongly in favour of their
doing useful work, and from the names given of those who hold these views the
opinions themselves become of weight. But before embarking in a scheme of this
sort it is necessary to have some figures either in support of or against it, for this
should and will be the ultimate criterion by which the success is judged, rather than
by the mere expression of opinion. We therefore take Huddersfield, a town which
has especially laid itself out for the prevention of infantile mortality ; also Oldham,
a typical manufacturing town, which has given some figures in support of the
appointment of health visitors.
The health visitors, who are both qualified medical women, were appointed in
October, 1905.