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94 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Of the 38 previously visited:—
In Tooting 5 were delicate from birth.
1 was wasting.
Southfield 2 were twins, visited when dying.
Springfield 3 were weakly, being severally one of
twins.
2 were ill from birth.
P. CALDWELL SMITH,
Medical Officer of Health.
10th October, 1906.
During the year the female Sanitary Inspectors have continued
the work begun in 1905, in visiting homes where births
occurred, and the following report gives the result of such visits
and a general account of the work carried out:—
"We have the honour of submitting to you our report
on the work we have done amongst infants during the past
year.
"The visiting has been confined to the Parish of Tooting,
the poorer parts of Balham, and the Fairfield and
Springfield Wards of Wandsworth. Even in this circumscribed
area it has been impossible to visit as frequently as
would be desirable owing to the limited time at our disposal
for this work. As under present circumstances only half the
number of mothers can be visited a second time, it will be
readily conceded that the results cannot be so satisfactory as
if more frequent visits and help were given. We are glad to
say that our advice has been in many instances gratefully
received, and now that the work is more widely known the
visits are looked forward to.
"Reference to Table XLV. will show the total number
of visits paid after notification of birth, the method of feeding
at the first visit, and the number of infants visited who
died during the year. The ineffectual visits mentioned are
largely due to the shifting population in the poorer districts.