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54
and these premises are periodically visited during the warm
weather, and the occupiers warned against the accumulation of
any refuse or other organic matter in or about the house. Special
leaflets are also distributed giving instructions in the prevention
of Diarrhceal Diseases.
In 1904 a Health Visitor was appointed by the Council.
Prior to this date leaflets had been distributed, in which instruction
in the uare of infants was given. These leaflets were probably
of some use, but it was felt that personal visits would have a
more beneficial effect. A list of the births legistered in the
district was obtained, and the Health Visitor paid visits to the
houses in that part of the district where the infantile mortality was
excessive. One fact militated largely against the success of these
visits. A birth need not be registered until six weeks have
elapsed; so that frequently the baby was about 2 months old
before a visit could lie paid. In that time occasionally irreparable
mischief had been done, and frequently artificial feeding had been
resorted to. It is true that the Midwives Act of 1902 has improved
the conditions under which the poorer part of the population are
treated at their confinement, but some doctors and midwives either
did not give advice as to the rearing of the infant or gave
improper advice.
The midwife is gradually becoming a more reliable person,
and it is likely that ere long the instances will become fewer in
w hich she will be a party to, or actually encourage, the abandonment
of breast feeding on the supervention of minor difficulties.
Our efforts to visit the births early were greatly facilitated by
the passage of the Notification of Births Act, and Acton was one
of the first districts to put the Act in force. It came into operation
in January, 1908. Over 75 per cent, of the births are nowvisited,
and revisits are paid in many instances.
The increased work which the Notification of Births Act
entailed, together with the school work, necessitated the appointment
of a second Health Visitor, but when the inspection of