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13 [1908
ultimate object of the measure, viz., the giving of advice and instruction to
those who have charge of the infants, and in ordinary circumstances they
would not be prepared to consent to the adoption of the Act unless it appears
that arrangements had been made for this purpose. These arrangements
would usually be best carried out by local agencies under the Medical Officer
of Health."
During the discussion of the subject, both in the Public Health Committee
and in the Council, it was frequently stated that there would be an ample number
of voluntary visitors and social and religious agencies quite willing to undertake
the work of visiting and imparting instruction. Up to the date of the
issue of this report no voluntary visitors or agencies have come forward, and,
therefore, the object of the Act, as stated by its framers, remains unattained,
and, so far as it is possible to foresee, unattainable.
Months prior to the adoption of the Act, that is since March, 1907, it had
been the custom of the Medical Officer of Health to send printed instructions
on the rearing and feeding of infants to the mother of every newly-born child,
which doubtless has effected some good, but which can never replace the verbal
instructions and object lessons which can be given, and are given elsewhere,
by properly qualified and trained health visitors.
How can instruction, for instance, be given on the question of breastfeeding—its
necessity alike for the good of the mother and (particularly) of the
child to whom such feeding is of the utmost importance and to whom it will
make, it may be, the difference between life and death in the immediate present,
and if it should live the difference between a healthy life and one of decrepitude?
In the last Blue Book issued (Cd. 4671) under the heading "Local
Authorities and Infant Mortality" the following paragraph appears: "In view
of the decline of the birth-rate during the last 30 years, and the fact that the
infantile death-rate has until the last few years remained almost stationary, it is
important that special attention should be directed to the problem of mortality
in early life. Certain causes of infant mortality are inevitable, but others, and
particularly those which are connected with improper feeding and sanitary conditions,
can be prevented. The efforts to reduce infantile mortality in which the
central and many local health authorities are now engaged are, therefore, mainly
directed to the removal of ignorance as to the feeding and general hygiene of infants.
The Notification of Births Act, 1907, has enabled local authorities adopting
the Act to secure that all births occurring in their district shall be notified to