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than otherwise. We now have five series of pictures for the
electric sign, which unfortunately, has not been fully in use during
the year owing to the restrictions on lighting, which have been in
force. Instructions have been given for the sign to be removed
from time to time, so that it may be displayed in various parts of
the Borough. The pictures are changed at regular-intervals.
Only one poster has been in use during the year, but we have made
considerable use of pamphlets for distribution at the lectures,
and, altogether, there are eleven pamphlets in use, most of them
prepared in our own department on the Multigraph machine.
During the year we have also prepared two bookmarks for use in
connection with library. Most of our attention has been given
to the propaganda by means of the spoken word, as opposed to
that by the printed word. It becomes increasingly clear as the
work goes on, that the spoken word carries far more weight than
does any other form of propaganda, and that the main use of
pamphlets and posters is to reinforce and repeat the advice
already given by the lecturer.
I have to thank Dr. Cairney for giving two lectures, and
Mr. Grantley Smith for giving two indoor lectures and one lecture
in the street."
VI. —MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
It gives me great pleasure to report that the infantile mortality
for 1926 went down to 60 per thousand births. This is the lowest
we have ever had, and looking back a quarter of a century's work
in Bermondsey, I can honestly say that had anyone prophesied a
reduction from nearly 200 deaths per thousand births to 60 in
that time, I would have looked upon him as an optimist of the
first water, for at that period I think I would have been quite
content to cut it down somewhere between 110 and 120 per
thousand births. The causes of this reduction are extremely
complicated, and although I would be perfectly within my rights
in claiming it as a large part due to the efficiency of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Department, still, in the interests of scientific
truth, one must admit that there are other factors, such as the
reduction in the birth rate, various climatic factors, general
improvement in education and so on, which have all played their
part in bringing about this most desirable end. The work of the