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103
While attempts to represent the value of human life in terms
of money must be more or less unsatisfactory, it must be admitted
that the loss of infant life, now taking place in all parts of the
country, is a loss in strength and value to the nation at large, and
any attempt to diminish that loss, which promises a fair amount of
success, ought to commend itself to a local authority. To adopt the
Notification of Births Act would be the first step in such an
attempt.
The further steps to be taken after the adoption of the Act
would be to organise, under proper supervision, a body of women
workers, competent to advise nursing mothers as to the proper
rearing and nurture of their infants.
My experience in connection with the Hackney Infant Life
Protection Society, organised by the Mayor, Alderman Billings,
convinces me that a sufficient number of competent workers, for
the purpose in view, may be found in connection with this
Association. These only require to be set to work under supervision,
but it would be impossible for me to personally supervise
the work of more than one or two without some assistance.
I am of opinion that if the Council appoint one woman Health
Visitor, who has had an experience as midwife or nurse in a
children's hospital, with some knowledge of sanitation, to assist me
in this supervision, a creditable attempt might be made, with the
help of the voluntary workers above referred to, to cope with the
discreditably high infant mortality of the Borough.
The annual cost of carrying out such a scheme would be
trifling. It would mean the salary of one Health Visitor, and some
incidental expenses for printing, &c. A competent woman for Health
Visitor could be secured for a salary of £100 per annum, half of
which would be refunded by the London County Council, and the
incidental expenses would, I believe, not amount to more than £25
per annum.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
J. KING WARRY, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.