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66
The Executive Council might meet once or twice yearly,
and the Local Committees once monthly.
Work of the Health Society.
Lectures and addresses (on health conditions ) might be
systematically arranged for the workers, and "friendly
talks" (dealing with the simple laws of domestic hygiene,
thrift and temperance) for meetings occasionally.
The distribution of the Council's pamphlets and cards of
advice on simple health matters, and the visiting of mothers,
both before and after confinement, might naturally fall to
the duty of certain of the workers to be hereafter selected
for their experience, practical knowledge of nursing and
management of children, and tact, and these selected
workers would act as Health Visitors and might note, at the
time of their visiting houses, any simple insanitary conditions
with a view to reporting such to the Health Department
of the Borough Council. This work of Health Visiting
is, at the present, legally outside the duties of Female Sanitary
Inspectors, officially appointed, and is much needed in a
large district like Lambeth.
Conclusion.
There would be a large amount of organisation required
in establishing a Health Society for the Borough of Lambeth,
but I am satisfied that much good would eventually
accrue therefrom to the Public Health and the inhabitants
of the Borough. The experience in practice of Health
Societies already established goes to show that they in no
way interfere with the actions of Sanitary Authorities,
thereby hampering their freedom of operation, but, on the
contrary, assist the work of public health.
The present time is ripe for the establishment of such a
Society, and I trust that the Public Health Committee and
the Borough Council will see their way to give the Scheme
their moral support.
Everything would depend at first upon obtaining the
services of a competent and energetic Hon. Secretary.
Joseph Priestly.
January 7th, 1907.