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13
Infantile Mortality.
The deaths of children under one year of age were at the rate of 121 per 1,000
births, as against 112 for the whole of London.
The Table of infantile mortality on p. 15 shows the deaths of children under one
year arranged according to monthly age periods. From this it will be seen that no less
than 44.5 per cent. of these deaths occurred in the first month, 77.5 per cent. within the
first three months, and 88.9 per cent. within the first six months of existence.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.
The work under the Notification of Births Act has been continued. During the
year, 114 births, which total includes six still-births, were notified as belonging to the
City. 261 other notifications not belonging to the City were received, and these
were forwarded to the Medical Officers of Health of the respective districts.
Of the 114 City Births:—
72 were notified by Medical Practitioners.
17 ,, ,, by Hospital Authorities, &c.
18 ,, „ by Midwives.
7 „ „ by Parents.
During the year, 222 visits were paid to homes to give instruction in the care and
feeding of infants, and 455 attendances were made by the mothers at the City Shelter.
Of the babies visited:—
80 per cent, were breast-fed.
11 „ were hand-fed.
9 ,, were partly breast-fed and partly hand-fed.
The Infant Welfare work was continued on the lines indicated in previous Ann u
Reports.
NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS (EXTENSION) ACT, 1915.
The above-mentioned Act was placed upon the Statute Book with the object
of (i.) extending to the whole Country the system of the Notification of Births Act,
1907, and (ii.) enabling Local Authorities to make arrangements for the care of nursing
mothers, expectant mothers, and young children.
The parent Act, which has been in operation in the City since July, 1908, makes
it obligatory upon the father of the child, if he is actually residing in the house where
the birth takes place at the time of its occurrence, or of any person in attendance upon
the mother at the time of or within six hours of the birth, to give notice in writing to
your Medical Officer of Health.