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64
are compelled to work away from home, as is the case in some
manufacturing towns, and that circumstance is so much in our favour,
yet we have many conditions such as the dirty and unhealthy habits of
many of the mothers to contend with. I estimate that nearly ninety percent.
of mothers breast feed their infants.
The deaths from Phthisis during 1908 were 414, and the notifications
uuder the voluntary system in vogue with us, were 427. The latter
number must be considered very small in face of the two thousand or
more cases always present in the Borough. The compulsory notification
of Poor Law cases, which came into force on the 1st of January, 1909,
will assist us, but what is wanted is compulsory notification of all known
cases and power to detain cases in the infirmaries when no suitable
accommodation exists at the home.
In regard to the visiting and disinfecting in connection with cases of
Phthisis, all cases are visited and in all those desiring it disinfection
is carried out weekly or fortnightly, as may be convenient, and in all
removals the room and contents are radically attended to.
VACCINATION.
During the year under consideration about 75 per cent. of the infant
population of the Borough was vaccinated. The remaining 25 per cent.
represented those who had escaped vaccination through the parents
either giving a false address, or removing from the neighbourhood, or
claiming exemption under the Vaccination Act, 1907. Before this Act
was passed those having conscientious scruples in regard to the value of
vaccination may have had some grounds of complaint of the cumbrous
way in which exemption was obtained, but now everything has been made
easy for the " objector." It is simply necessary for the parent to make a
declaration before a Magistrate, or a Justice of the Peace, or before a
Commissioner for Oaths (which is the usual way) that, in the parent's
opinion, it would be detrimental to the health of the child to have it
vaccinated, and exemption is obtained.
The exemptions from vaccination have increased five fold in the year,
but in less poor districts, I am informed, the number of exemptions has
been much greater. It is satisfactory to know that the bulk of the infant
population are being efficiently vaccinated.