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I-6
for mothers, and especially the appointment of health visitors,
following on the Notification of Births Act These were each and
all presumed to have had a special and beneficent influence towards
the reduction, and quite apart from these general hygienic measures
which have no doubt had a great effect in bringing down the all-ages
death rate in recent years. It was no doubt owing to this impression
that a recommendation of the Southwark Diocesan Conference
that trained and qualified health visitors be appointed, was passed
and sent to this Council. A rude shock is therefore experienced
when we find that last year the infantile mortality rate rose in
London from 103 to 129. In this Borough, with its total of 735
deaths, the proportion went from 94 to 109, and it becomes therefore
a matter of interest and importance to see how far the measures
already mentioned were able to withstand a condition of weather so
favourable to a high infantile mortality, and to the prevalence of
epidemics of diarrhœa.
In July, 1910, when the recommendation of the South wark
Diocesan Conference was under consideration, I drew up a table in
a report showing the infantile mortality of certain other Boroughs
(where such officials are at work) with which comparisons have been
drawn in previous reports, and which is set out below, together
with the inclusion of the 1911 figures. The Committee, having
considered this report, after considerable discussion deci ded not to
recommend any such appointments, a resolution whichw as endorsed
by the Council on July 19th, 1910.
This self-same question had already been before them on
several occasions, and I have in previous annual reports made a
comparison, going back to the year 1906, between Camberwell and
five other Boroughs who had for some time employed health
visitors. These figures do not produce any convincing evidence
as to the influence of these appointments in reducing infantile
mortality, and if the supporters of the appointment of these officials
as a means for such reduction of can find much cause for self-congratulation
in the figures, they are easily satisfied.
Speaking for myself, however, I can see no reason to alter the
view so frequently expressed that is it material help rather than
advice that is needed, and that the intangible sympathy and
assistance of the health visitor is not likely to be of advantage.