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137
By the notification of Births Act, 1907, all births are required to
be notified to the Medical Officer of Health within 36 hours of their
occurrence. The obligation to notify imposed by the Act is in addition
to, and not in substitution for, the obligation to register a birth which
is imposed by the Registration Act. The Notification of Births Act
came into operation in Hampstead in March, 1908, and the year 1914
is the sixth for which we possess a complete annual record of the working
of the Act. The number of births notified in 1914 was 1223, including
30 still-births, the number of live-births notified being 1193. The total
number of live-births occurring in Hampstead in 1914 was 1213, so
that the number of live-births notified formed 98.3 per cent. of the
number that actually occurred, this being a very satisfactory percentage.
307 births were notified by medical practitioners, 198 by midwives, 610
by parents and 78 from other sources.
Of the births notified to the Medical Officer of Health a proportion
occur among the well-to-do, but of the remaining number—about 850—
765 (90 per cent.) were visited. In this connection 360 re-visits were
also made. The visit of the lady inspector, which is made soon after the
birth of an infant, enables her to observe obvious sanitary defects in the
home or its arrangements, to advise in matters of health, and often to
advocate the seeking of medical advice when such is necessary. When
the mother is able to get about, she is invited to bring her baby to the
Mothers' Welcome at the Health Institute. Here she may obtain advice
as regards the rearing of children, and have her child weighed so that
its general condition may be watched. Mrs. hoche, one of the Council's
Health Visitors, attends the meetings of the Infants' Committees (East
and West) of the Hampstead Health Society, and there informs the
Committees of those mothers who, in her opinion, need befriending and
helping.
The weighing of babies takes place as follows :—
On Wednesdays, between 2.30 and 4.30, at the Health
Institute, Kingsgate Road.
On Thursdays, between 2.30 and 4.0, at St. Stephen's
Rooms, Pond Street.
On Fridays, between 2.30 and 4.0 at Emmanuel Parish
Hall, Broomsleigh Street.