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The total number of births which took place in Bermondsey last year was 3,799, and of these
3,737 were notified under the Notification of Births Act, 1907.
The difficulty referred to in the last report of getting the whole of the cases notified has to a
large extent been overcome by the sending out to parents and doctors the special letters mentioned
in my comments on this table for 1911. lam still of opinion that it would have been better had the
time allowed for registration been shortened from six weeks to one, instead of having a special Act.
An endeavour is now been made to hunt up delinquents, and a letter is being sent to the medical practitioners
pointing out to them that it is their duty to inform the father of his duty under the Act,
and that the medical man in attendance is not exempt unless he has reason to believe that someone
else has notified.
Of the 3,737 births notified, 2,860 received primary visits from the Health Visitors. The
number of secondary visits was 585. Of this number 2784 were breast fed, so that, with very few
exceptions, breast feeding among the working classes in Bermondsey is the rule. This, however,
only continues for a period of a month, or six weeks at furthest, after which period working mothers
here find it necessary to supplement the meagre income by work of some description. Their infants
are then left in charge of a stranger or some inexperienced member of the family, the result being they
are artificially fed, and the wonder is that the infantile mortality is not much greater. It speaks well
for the vitality of the infantile population that they survive the extraordinary methods of feeding
to which some of them are subjected. Any enquiries into the subject of breast feeding and the best
methods of ensuring its continuance will be incomplete if the ceconomic conditions of the mothers is
not taken into account.
Voluntary Tuberculosis Dispensary.
The report for 1912 of the Voluntary Tuberculosis Dispensary which was established in June,
1911, shows a great increase of work which necessitated the appointment of an additional doctor
and nurse. They are also contemplating taking new premises. During the year there were 944 new
patients examined.
721 or 76.4 per cent
Bermondsey
Rotherhithe
108 or 114 „
75 or 8 „
St. Olave's
South wark
19 or 2 „
3 or 0.3 „
Camberwell
Elsewhere
18 or 1.9 „
Total
944
Of these 324 or 34-3 per cent, showed definite signs of pulmonary tuberculosis and 121 or
12.8 per cent, were suspected but not definitely proved to be suffering fiom pulmonary tuberculosis,
while 26 or 2.8 per cent, had other forms of tuberculosis than pulmonary and 473 or 50 per cent,
had no symptons of tuberculosis. Included in the total number of 944 were 281 patients
who had been living and associated with tubercular patients under the care of the dispensary and
were what are known as " Contacts." Of these, 85 showed definite signs of pulmonary tuberculosis
and 42 were suspected of early disease while 154 had no symptons of tuberculosis.
This latter is part of the most useful work of the dispensary since these 127 cases probably
would not have seen a doctor until the signs were very much more advanced in which case it is likely
they would either have been incurable or very difficult to treat.
The dispensary is carried out on the lines of what is known as the Edinburgh system and works
with cordial co-operation with the Public Health Department and the various philanthrophic agencies.
For these figures I am indebted to the Superintendent of the dispensary, Dr. Robert Govan, who
has taken a great deal of interest in its working, and has rendered valuable assistance in looking out
for patients for our sanatorium beds, diagnosing cases and in other ways in prevention of pulmonary
and other forms of tuberculosis in Bermondsey.
IV.—FACTORIES AND WORKSHOPS.
In Table X. of the Appendix will be found particulars of the inspections of factories And workshops,
and in the following table particulars regarding the trades and persons employed in connection
with workshops. There were 693 workshops on the Register in 1912. Including bakehouses, of
which there were 76 in use, the total is 769.
OUTWORKERS.
There were 574 outworkers on the Register at the end of 1912. 90 lists were sent in by firms
in this Borough employing outworkers. Table X. of the Appendix shows the various trades followed
by outworkers in this district.