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58
The subjoined list shows to what a preponderant extent the deaths of infants under one year
of age occur among the less well-to-do classes of the population.

THE CARE OF INFANTS: APPOINTMENT OF A HEALTH VISITOR.
In 1900, I recommended the appointment of women to assist in sanitary administration by
the performance of duties analogous to those discharged by "Health Visitors" at Manchester,
Birmingham, etc., some account of which was set out in my annual report for that year. The Sanitary
Committee of the late Vestry reported sympathetically on the subject, as being "deserving of
the careful attention of Sanitary Authorities;" but they felt that, having regard to the Vestry's
"waning existence," it was "undesirable that any new office should then be created." Nevertheless,
at the meeting of the Vestry (18th July), on consideration of the Committee's report, there was a
strong expression of opinion that action should be taken, forthwith, in the direction recommended
by me: ultimately, however, a motion to that effect was negatived.
In the first monthly report in 1904, I renewed the proposal when dealing with the question
of Infantile Mortality, and the report was referred to the Public Health Committee, for whose
information I drew up a further report which was printed at page 48 in the annual report for 1904,
The specific recommendation made to the Public Health Committee was, that three Health
Visitors, with the status of Sanitary Inspector, should be appointed; and the sub-committee reported
in favour of this proposal; but ultimately the Public Health Committee presented a report
as follows: —
"We have had before us, pursuant to the reference by the Council of the 16th February
last, the appendix to the report of the Medical Officer of Health, dated 4th February, 1904,
under the heading 'Infantile Diarrhoeal Mortality in 1903,' together with a memorandum on
the subject subsequently prepared by that officer ; and having carefully considered as to
the steps which should be taken to reduce, as far as possible, the high rate of infantile
mortality which does undoubtedly exist in parts of Kensington, we are of opinion that it ia
desirable, temporarily to appoint a properly qualified woman to act in the capacity of
' Health Visitor,' at a salary not exceeding £2 per week, and to circulate leaflets for the
guidance of mothers with regard to the feeding, clothing, &c., of young children, and the
management of the home."
The report was adopted by the Council 20th December, 1904, and in March, 1905, Miss
Gauntlett was appointed to the position of Health Visitor, for the purpose of visiting poor
mothers to advise them with regard to the feeding and the care generally of their babies, and to
distribute a leaflet, prepared by the sub-committee, approved by the Public Health Committee
and adopted by the Council, containing "advice for the guidance of Mothers on the
Feeding and Care of their Babies."