View report page

20
National Health Week.—The opportunity offered by Health Week, which was
first held in 1912, from April 28th till May 4th, was taken advantage of in the
Borough, and special efforts were made to direct fuller attention to the question of
infantile mortality and its prevention.
On the special committee, which was formed by the Marylebone Health Society
to organise the work, the Borough Council was represented by the Mayor (Ernest
Debenham, Esq., J.P.), the Chairman of the Public Health Committee (the Rev.
J. A. Beaumont, M.A.), Sir Horatio Shephard and the Medical Officer of Health.
The object of the Week was "to focus public opinion on all matters connected
with health, hygiene, sanitation and the prevention of disease, for the space of one
week, so as to arouse attention to health among the members of any section of the
community."
In carrying out this object, large numbers of persons and organisations assisted.
The Clergy of the various denominations were particularly active, and the Committee
were successful in obtaining a large number of speakers, who gave lectures and
demonstrations on various health subjects. The interest in the work being done on
behalf of the babies was greatly stimulated, and the enthusiasm which was expended
cannot fail to have produced some effect.
Local Government Enquiry.—The following table gives the information which
was supplied to Dr. Newsholme, Medical Officer to the Local Government Board, in
connection with his enquiry into infantile mortality.
Much of what is set down has already been noted in this and previous reports,
but because it may be useful for reference it is reproduced.
PREVENTION OF INFANT AND CHILD MORTALITY.
Return for Medical Department, Local Government Board.
A. 1. Has the Notification of Births Act Yes.
been adopted ? If so, please state
(1) Date of its adoption 17th June, 1908.
(2) Total No. of Births notified in each 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912.
complete year since its adoption... 3224 4052 4090 4031
(a) Attended by doctors 856 811 839 1339
(b) Attended by midwives 696 854 774 780
(3) No. of still-births notified in each 1908. 1909. 1910. 1911. 1912.
of the same years 17 39 68 58 131
(4) No. of births registered in each of 2559 2534 2556 2375 2246
the same years
2. As the result of your experience, are Yes, but practically no difficulty ex-
you of opinion that Notification of perienced in cases in which it is of
Births might without disadvantage importance to have early information
(e.g. in failure to secure breast- of birth.
feeding) be postponed for a few days?