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vices of at least one lady who could devote her whole time to
this work, and as power is now given by the London County
Council General Powers Act, 1908, to sanitary authorities "to
appoint suitable women (to be known as health visitors) for
the purpose of giving to persons advice as to the proper
assistance, care and management of young children, and the
promotion of cleanliness," I trust that the Council will now
make such an appointment.
Mention was made in the report for 1908 of the inauguration
of a scheme for the reduction of infantile mortality by the
systematic instruction of nursing and expectant mothers on
the lines of the St. Pancras School for Mothers, and it is satisfactory
to record its success. From July, 1908, to June, 1909, a
weekly consultation was held at St. Augustine's Hall, to which
mothers brought their babies who were seen by the Hon.
Medical Officer, Miss Alice Benham, M.B.Lond., and advice
was given on their feeding, nursing and clothing, and as the
numbers attending continued to increase, and promises of
adequate financial support were received, the Committee decided
to extend the scope of their work, and with this object
took permanent premises at 92, Greyhound Road and engaged
a lady superintendent. Medical consultations are now held at
this address twice a week, dinners are provided for nursing
and expectant mothers at a charge of 2d. a meal, and cookery,
dressmaking and other classes are held.
In all 362 babies have passed through the school
who have made 1,320 attendances, and the results as given
in the report of the School recently published are most
encouraging.
Deaths of Illegitimate Infants.
Sixty-seven of the children who died before attaining the
age of one year were illegitimate, the mortality among them
being in the proportion of 295 deaths per 1,000 births, against
98 per 1,000 among children born in wedlock.
B 2