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101
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT.
The Notification of Births Act, 1907, was adopted by the
Council and came into operation throughout the Lambeth
Borough on March 9th, 1908. A circular letter was sent
round to every Medical Practitioner and every Midwife
known to be practising within the Borough, pointing out the
provisions of the Act, and giving particulars as to the
notification letter-cards (addressed and stamped) to be used.
The adoption of the Act within the Borough was opposed
by the Lambeth Division of the Metropolitan Counties'
Branch of the British Medical Association, in a letter, dated
February 11th, 1908, on the grounds:—
(1) That it imposes a violation of professional
fidence ;
(2) That early interference by strangers is likely to be
more harmful than beneficial to the patient, and,
if considered necessary, would be of more value
at the ordinary registration period;
(3) That, in certain unfortunate cases, mothers would
be likely to avoid professional aid, when associated
with compulsory publicity, thereby running
grave risks to themselves, and their offspring ;
(4) That it is unreasonable and inequitable that any
public work should be demanded under penalty
from the profession, unless the services rendered
to the State are fully recognised and paid for.
The petition was not successful, the Council still expressing
the opinion that the Act was a most useful one,
and one from which it was anticipated that much good
would accrue in connection with the important subject of
the prevention of infantile mortality—an anticipation that
has been more than realised, judging by the results of the
first 10 months working (vide pp. 135-136).