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7
pressed the opinion that more requires to be done than making
use of voluntary workers, if the problem of reducing the infant
mortality is to be successfully solved. Not only must a permanent,
well qualified health visitor be appointed to supervise and
co-ordinate the work of these voluntary workers, but means
must be obtained (from voluntary sources) to assist the needy
mother and child during the early months of the infant's life.
Another urgent problem calling for earnest and energetic action
on the part of the local authority is how to diminish the prevalence
of that scourge of our race, pulmonary tuberculosis. The
knowledge of this disease is so complete that we are in a position
with every hope, to bring about a considerable reduction in its
prevalence at a relatively small cost if the matter is faced
earnestly and resolutely. The Public Health (Tuberculosis)
Regulations, which came into force in Hackney at the beginning
of 1909, are of great help in dealing with the cases of tuberculosis
coming under the notice of the Poor Law officials. In
another part of this report I give details of enquiries made respecting
the cases of pulmonary tuberculosis notified to me
during 1909. I have no hesitation in saying that a retrospective
glance at the sanitary progress of Hackney is very gratifying,
and that the outlook for future progress, especially in staying
the progress of infant mortality and pulmonary tuberculosis,
most encouraging.
I am pleased to state that the officers of the Public Health
Department have, on the whole, carried out the duties entrusted
to them to my entire satisfaction.
Population and Density,—Approaching as we are the end of an
intercensal period, it must be remembered that estimates of population,
based now on the rate of increase during the last intercensal
period, are apt to be wide of the actual numbers, so that the
estimate of population for the year 1909 may only be approximate
With this reservation, and applying the same rate of increase of