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44
The sanction of the Local Government Board was obtained and
the Act came into force on January 7th, 1908.
The provisions of the Act were advertised in the local newspapers,
and a copy of the advertisement was posted on hoardings and
outside the churches and chapels of the district.
Circulars containing the notice of adoption and the provisions
of the Act were sent to all the dectors and midwives in the district
and stamped notification letter cards were sent to each doctor and
midwife practising in the district.
One thousand three hundred and fifty notifications were
received, 1315 live births and 35 still births.
Four hundred and ninty-two of these were made by doctors,
727 by midwives and 131 by the fathers of the children.
Over 100 notifications were received as a result of communications
sent to those who were responsible for the notifications.
Three hundred and eight births occurred which were not
notified within the statutory period. During the earlier months of
the year the number of births not notified was as high as 30 per
cent., but since the Council instituted proceedings against defaulters
the number in any week seldom exceeds 10 per cent.
CANCER.
48 deaths occurred from Cancer or Malignant Disease.
The Ward distribution was as follows :—
North-East 14 South-East 9
North-West 8 South-West 17
19 of the deaths were in males and 29 in females, but the preponderance
of females is more than accounted for by the number
of deaths from Cancer of the Reproductive organs.
There were 12 deaths from Cancer of the Breast and 4 from
Cancer of the Uterus.
The most marked increase was in the number of deaths from
Cancer of the Alimentary Canal.
In 13 instances the bowels were affected, in 6 the Stomach, in
4 the Liver and Bile Ducts, and in 1 the Pancras.