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Some 10 midwives were reported to be more or less illiterate, but their registers and notes were
as a rule kept by their relatives and notices regularly sent in. Several midwives who had committed
slight infringements of the rules were advised to attend the Council's classes for midwives, with a view
to making them better acquainted with the requirements of the rules.
Two midwives are Italians and practise exclusively amongst the Italian population of London,
and some 25 Jewish midwives practise chiefly among the Jewish population of East London. Breaches
of the rules were said to have been due in a few cases to the fact that these midwives were not able to
understand the rules in English. The Jewish Board of Guardians was approached with reference
to this difficulty and kindly consented to translate into Yiddish those sections of the rules bearing upon
the duties of midwives. Copies of these rules in Yiddish have now been supplied to the Jewish midwives.
Unregistered women.—A number of names of women practising midwifery, but not certified by
the Central Midwives Board, have been reported to me from time to time. A list of 119 names has been
made, and periodic visits are paid to ascertain whether they are infringing the provisions of the Midwives
Act. During the year 43 names were added to the list and enquiries made as to the practice of
these women. In 8 cases there was some evidence of infringement of Section 1 (1) of the Act; 5 were
dealt with by a letter of caution threatening proceedings if the infringement were again reported. In
three instances legal proceedings were taken and a conviction followed. A fine of 5s. was imposed in
each of two cases, and in the third case—that of a woman who had been certified but whose name had
been removed from the Roll of the Central Midwives Board—a fine of 10s. and 23s. costs was imposed.
At the time of the passing of the Midwives Act the Council issued a leaflet drawing attenti on
to the Act, and stating the means to be adopted to secure certification. This leaflet was sent to a large
number of women who were at that time practising midwifery, and those who did not become certified
were at least made aware of the provisions of the Act, and the use of the title of midwife by uncertified
persons is consequently not often found.
Medical help notices.—The rules of the Central Midwives Board provide that in certain circumstances,
which are given in detail, a midwife must advise that medical help must be called, and
another rule places upon the midwife the duty of reporting within 24 hours to the Local Supervising
Authority whenever medical help is thus advised and the reason for requiring it. During the year
1907, 2,533 of these notices were received. This is a slight increase on the figures for previous years.
(In 1905 1,113 notices and in 1906 2,320 notices were received.) This increase is no doubt in part due
to a fuller knowledge on the part of midwives of the rules requiring them to send these notices, and also
to the fact that midwives are better recognising the necessity for calling medical help in cases in which
there is the slightest sign of danger to their patients. Notice of sending for medical help on one or
more occasions was given by 310 midwives. It therefore appears that of the 490 midwives who gave
notice of intention to practise, 180 sent in no notices of calling medical help; of these 180 midwives
many are resident in hospital and Poor Law institutions, working under medical supervision, and
though they are compelled by the Act to give notice of intention to practise, they are exempted
from the necessity of observing the rules as to giving notice of calling medical aid. The remainder
of those not giving notices were midwives who only attend cases occasionally.
1 midwife sent in 83 of these notices..
1 70
,, ,, " "
5 midwives sent over 50 each.
2 midwives sent in 40-50 „
4 „ „ 30-40 „
13 „ „ 20-30 „
56 „ „ 10-20 „
228 .. less than 10
*In these two cases the Council had cautioned the midwives, but the coroner had made a representation to
the Central Midwives Board, and in order that the Board might hear the case fully, a formal representation was made.
The Board decided that the caution administered by the Council met the case and did not proceed further with it.