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17
the inspection of poor class property; and the undertaking of
occasional enquiries and advice in cases of infectious disease. Such
an officer appointed in Stoke Newington would be required to devote
a part of her time to work arising out of the Notification of Births
Act, which was adopted by the Council during the year 1908, and
to measures having for their object the reduction of the infant
mortality in the Borough. For instance she would be required to
note conditions of ignorant feeding or the non-supply of sufficient
and nourishing food and to take judicious steps to correct those
evils; to give advice on the right feeding of infants, to warn
against premature weaning, to inculcate in particular the importance
of breast-feeding until the teeih appear, and the avoidance, above
all, of foul feeding-bottles; to note any insanitary or foul conditions
in any of the homes visited where infants have recently been born
and to report such matters to the Medical Officer of Health; and
lastly to assist the Medical Officer of Health in promoting and
co-ordinating the work of the Voluntary Lady Health Workers (who
now number seven) in the Borough.
The Council at their Meeting on the 19th January, 1909, adopted
the recommendation of the Public Health Committee for the appointment
of a female sanitary inspector, and there can be no doubt
whatever that a wise and valuable provision has been thereby made
in the interests of the health of the Borough.
The rate of Infantile Mortality for the Borough is about the
same as that for the preceding year; and it must be regarded as a
fairly satisfactory figure. As I have often pointed out, it is a
mortality figure which closely reflects both the social status of the
community and the personal qualities of the parents. With better
knowledge of the infant's needs, and in some cases a greater parental
concern for its care, the figure is capable of considerable reduction.
It is due to the recognition of these facts that the sendees of women
workers has now become so largely requisitioned by Sanitary Authorities
for the purpose of reducing this largely preventable mortality.
B