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subject to the conclusions arrived at by the Conference—for the
particulars specified in the Form to be collected on the spot in
whatever manner (e.g., by cards or notebooks) he may think most
convenient, but that for each case a Form should subsequently be
completed, and that when the Medical Officer of Health sends in his
report of the results of the inquiry in his district, all the Forms
should be forwarded at the same time to the Home Office for the
purposes of such further collation, if any, as may be desired. As
the Forms will have to be preserved for two years and more, it will
be advisable to file them in covers.
When all the particulars in respect of births in 1908 are complete
it is desired that you will work up into a report the particulars
contained in the returns, together with any information you
may have been able to collect from other sources (e.g., lying-in
homes, hospitals, &c.). It may be possible for the Secretary of State
to suggest later a form of tables (on the lines of that given in the
Home Office circular of the 10th May last) in which the statistical
results can be uniformly presented. As stated by me at the
Conference, it is the intention of the Secretary of State at the completion
of the inquiry to publish in a blue book to be presented to
Parliament the reports on the subject which he receives from the
Medical Officers of Health.
In conclusion the Secretary of State would remind you that
the two main objects of the inquiry are:—
(1) to determine the effect of employment of women before and
after childbirth on the health of mother and child, and particularly,
by means of a comparison between women who have been at work
in a factory or workshop and women who have been otherwise
employed or engaged only in domestic duties, whether employment
in a factory or workshop has any specially prejudicial effect, and.
(2) so far as the Medical Officer of Health may be able to collect
material bearing on the question, to gauge the social and economic
effects which further restrictions on the employment of women in
factories and work-shops before and after childbirth would entail
and in particular whether such restrictions would or would not
have indirect effects prejudicial to infant life, either (a) by adding
to the economic burden of child-bearing and so leading to a further
fall in the birth-rate, or (b) by increasing the poverty of the household,
and so—through worse feeding, &c.—leading to an increase in
the infant death rate.
Mr. Gladstone will now be very glad to hear that you are prepared
to conduct an inquiry (commencing on 1st January, 1908) on
the lines indicated, in your district, and to be informed at your