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13
Diarrhœat diseases causes 83 deaths ; wasting diseases including
premature births were responsible for 212 deaths; tuberculous
diseases, 36 deaths ; overlying, 16 deaths ; lung diseases, 95 deaths ;
and the common infectious diseases, 32 deaths. Many of those it
may be observed are preventable.
In connection with infant mortality it will not be out of place
to refer to measures of a general nature which have been adopted
which may exercise in the future a profound influence for good on
the infant death rate of the Borough.
I refer first of all to the order of the Local Government Board,
issued on the 18th October, 1909, declaring the notification of Births
Act, 1907, to be in force in the Borough.
The object of this Act it will be remembered is to enable local
authorities to obtain early notification of births, so that steps may
be taken at an early date after birth to bring to mothers and others
having the care of infants advice as to the "proper nurture, care
and management of young children and the promotion of
cleanliness, etc."
Supplementary to this Act and prior to its being declared in
force in Hackney, the Local Government Board issued "The
Health Visitors (London) Order, 1909." This order has for its
object the making of Regulations respecting the qualification,
duties, salaries, and tenure of office of health visitors appointed
under Section 6 of the London County Council (General Powers)
Act, 1908. This latter Act gives local authorities in London power
to appoint suitable women (to be known as health visitors) for the
purpose of giving to persons advice as to the proper nurture, care
and management of young children, and the promotion of cleanliness
and discharging such other duties (if any), as may be assigned to
them in accordance with the provisions of the above Section.
Thus the notification of Births Act, 1907, and the Supplementary
Health Visitors' Order, 1909, put in the hands of the Metropolitan
Borough Councils powerful means by which they may in the future
do much to lessen infant mortality by a comparatively small
expenditure.