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23
EXTRACT FROM THE CHILDREN ACT, 1908.
PART 2. SECTION 12.
"If any person over the age of sixteen years who has the custody,
charge or care of any child or young person causes such child to be
ill-treated or neglected in a manner likely to cause such child unnecessary
suffering to his health (including injury to or loss of sight) that person
shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.
EXTRACT FROM RULES FRAMED BY THE CENTRAL
MIDWIVES BOARD.
"By Rules E 18 and 19 (5) of the Rules framed by the Central
Midwives' Board under Section 3 1. of the Midwives Act, 1902
(2 Ed to. 7, c. 17), at the Council Chamber, Whitehall, on 24th April,
1907, a midwife has to request the husband or nearest relative or
friend to obtain medical help, and the midwife is also required by
Rule E 20 and 21, to send notice to the local supervising authority,
which in London is the London County Council.
"So far as the local sanitary authority is concerned, with its
Health Visitor, no notice has to be given, and it is obvious that if
notification were compulsory the Health Visitor and the voluntary
workers would be able to visit the cases, and where there was no
doctor or where there had been a doctor and he had ceased to
attend, the cases could be kept under observation.
"With regard to the notification of ophthalmia neonatorum,
there is no doubt that compulsory notification would act as a
deterrent in the prevention of carelessness or inefficiency.
"It may be accepted as proved that the careful adoption by
midwives and nurses of very simple measures will reduce the
incidence of ophthalmia neonatorum to a very low point. For
example, a mere wiping of the infant's eyes free from adherent
secretion as soon as possible after the head is born.
"Immediately after the birth of a baby, and before anything
else is done, wipe the eyelids and all parts surrounding the eyes
with a soft dry linen rag; soon afterwards wash those parts with
tepid water before any other part is touched.
"The saving of the sight depends entirely upon the greatest