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"Again, in the return of births registered in the Sub-District of
Bromley during the week ended 20th March, there is an entry of a
male child having been born on the 4th February, whereas on the
notification card received on the 28th January the date of birth is
given as 26th January, and there can be no doubt that the child was
born on this latter date and not upon the 4th February as registered.
"Each of the three Registrars of the Borough informs the
Medical Officer of Health that frequently the date given by the
person registering the birth varies from that which is returned to him
by the Medical Officer of Health. In some cases the Begistrars, by
calling attention to the date which appeared on the notification of
birth card supplied by the Public Health Department, is able to
register the date previously given to the Medical Officer of Health,
but in others the person registering the birth will not admit any
mistake; hence the Registrar has no option but to enter the date
which must obviously be incorrect, as there can be no doubt that the
date on the notification of birth "card is the more correct, as it is
posted within 36 hours after the birth.
"The probable explanation is the parents give the wrong date of
the births, having failed to register such births within six weeks, as
required by the Registration Act, and thereby avoid the penalty.
"A birth notified under the Notification of Births Act as
happening out of wedlock on 31st January, was given the mother's
name on the notification card to the Medical Officer of Health, and
subsequently appeared in the Registrar's return for the week ended
13th March registered in the father's name, as if the child had been
born in wedlock."
There can be no doubt the adoption of the Notification of Births Act
and the sending to the Registrars copies of the filled-in form which is sent
weekly to the London County Council, assists the Registrars in registering
the correct date of the birth.
Medical Practitioners and the Notification of Births Act.
Apparently all the births taking place in the Borough are not notified,
for there is evidence that some medical practitioners do not comply with the
provisions of the Notification of Births Act.
Upon the adoption of the Act its provisions were brought to the
notice of the medical practitioners and midwives practising within the