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12
CARE AND FEEDING OF INFANTS
In previous Annual Reports I have given details respecting visits and
inquiries made by the Lady Sanitary Inspector with a view to diminishing the
infantile mortality in the Borough. If thought desirable, instructions are given
respecting the care and feeding of the child and a leaflet left. Notices are also
served for any sanitary defects found.
On account of the Notification of Births Act a large number of visits were
made much earlier than in previous years.
As doctors and midwives object to visits being made until after they have
ceased attendance on the patient, the first visit is now made when the child is
about a fortnight old.
Of the 913 first visits made full inquiries were able to be made in 828 cases.
Excluding 16 still births and 8 children who did not live long enough to take any
food, of the remaining 804 children, 697 were found to be naturally fed, 107 to be
partly or entirely artificially fed at the time of the first visit. A large number of
revisits were made, particularly in the cases of children who were not breast fed.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.
The Local Government Board consented to the adoption of the Act and fixed
Monday, the 9th March, 1908, as the day on which the adoption came into
operation.
The Act provides:—
"In the case of every child born in an area in which this Act is adopted it
shall be the duty of the father of the Child, if he is actually residing
in the house where the birth takes place at the time of its occurrence,
and of any person in attendance upon the mother at the time of, or
within six hours after the birth, to give notice in writing of the birth
to the Medical Officer of Health of the District in which the child
is born."
Notice is to be given by posting a prepaid letter or post-card addressed to the
Medical Officer of Health, Council Offices, 197, High Holborn, giving the necessary
information of the birth within 36 hours after the birth, or by delivering a written
notice of the birth at the Office of the Medical Officer of Health within the
same term.
The Council is to supply, without charge, addressed and stamped post-cards
containing the form of notice to any Medical Practitioner or Midwife residing or
practising in the Borough who applies for the same.
Any person who fails to give notice of a birth in accordance with the Act
will be liable to a penalty not exceeding 20s.