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It was further recognised that while parallel observations from
rural and agricultural districts would be of great general interest,
they would hardly admit of comparison with the statistics collected
in industrial districts.
In this connection the Secretary of State may point out that it
is not necessary in each case that the area of inquiry should be very
large—a moderate area containing a fair number of women industrially
employed will furnish useful results—but of course the
more numerous the births occurring in the area selected, the more
certain will be the conclusions arrived at with regard to the effects
of the industrial employment of women in that area.
III.—PERIOD OF THE INQUIRY.
The Conference was asked to determine whether the inquiry
should be made in respect of children born between 1st January
and 31st December, 1907, i.e., should be retrospective, or whether it
should be in respect of children born between 1st January and 31st
December, 1908. The question was eventually put to the vote
when it was resolved that the inquiry should be in regard to
children born in the year 1908. It follows that, as the inquiry is to
cover the whole of the first year of life, it cannot be completed till
the expiration of the first year of life for children born on 31st
December, 1908, i.e., not till 31st December, 1909.
IV.—METHOD OF COLLECTING INFORMATION.
It was agreed that the employment of trained women visitors,
such as the Health Visitors who already make such inquiries in
several towns, would be necessary.
At the end of the discussion on the inquiry, the Conference
nominated, at the request of the Home Office, certain Medical
Officers of Health to form a Committee to assist the Home Office in
drawing up a Form for the use of Medical Officers of Health and
their staff in recording in a convenient manner the information
agreed or recommended to be obtained in respect of each case. I
enclose herewith a copy of the Form which has been drafted in
consultation with this Committee, and, in view of the great importance
of conducting the inquiry on uniform lines, I am to express
a strong hope that the Medical Officers of Health who are willing to
take part in the inquiry will adopt this Form for their returns.
It need hardly be said that the adoption of this Form will not
in any way preclude any Medical Officer of Health from providing
for the collection of additional particulars by the Visitors. The
intention is that each Medical Officer of Health should arrange—