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53
It is, I venture to think, unnecessary for me to adduce
arguments in favour of their utility, as there is
now but one opinion on this point, and it is generally
admitted that the decline in infant mortality during recent
years is mainly due to the preventive methods
adopted by sanitary authorities, and (of these, home
visitation of infants has been the most important.
It must be remembered that, although during the
latter half of last century there was in this country a
steady decline in the general death-rate at all ages due
to the improvement in sanitation and (in the standard of
comfort of the people, infantile mortality remained
stationary, and there was practically no decline till
the last decade, when special measures to lessen the
enormous loss of infant life began to be taken, and 1
may further point out that the reduction in infant mortality
of recent years has, at any rate in Fulham, been
confined to children over one month of age, that is, to
those who; are reached by the preventive efforts which
have been adopted, and that there has been no reduction
in the mortality of infants under four weeks of
age, whose deaths are mainly due to ante-natal
causes, which are but little afifected by existing preventive
methods. It is, however, unnecessary to
labour this point, as I think that the Council, in view
of the paramount importance of the problem, will be
only too willing to adopt any measures which might
promise success even if such a result had not actually
been proved.
The question, therefore, appears to me to be mainly
with regard to the number of Health Visitors who
should be appointed. I have discussed this 'matter
with Dr. Mivart. one of the Inspectors of the Local
Government Board who was sent by the Board to
see the Town Clerk and myself in order to bring to
our notice the very great importance which the Board
attach to the work of home visitation. The Local Government
Board, who are acquainted with the details of