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5
Infant Mortality.—There has been an unusually large number of
deaths (18) under one year during 1915 with an Infant Mortality Rate of
107 compared with three deaths and a rate of 17 in 1914. The increase
has been due to deaths from measles (1), whooping cough (2), diphtheria (1)
and pneumonia (2), all nil under one year in 1914, and to seven deaths from
premature birth compared with two in 1914.
With one exception, a child aged four months who died of convulsions,
all the deaths were certified and all were legitimate children.
The rate for the whole of England and Wales was 110.
The Midwives Act, 1902, is administered by the Kent County Council
direct.
There were no cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum notified during 1915.
The Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915.—In the report
for 1914 I briefly remarked that the circular of the Local Government
Board dated July 28th 1914 on the subject of Maternity and Child Welfare
had been discussed by the Council, but that no local tcheme was organised as
it seemed desirable than a County organisation should deal with this subject
having in view the fact that they already had the supervision of Midwives
and the care of School Children.
By the passing of the Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915,
however, the original Act, the Notification of Births Act, 1907, hitherto
adoptive, came into force in all those districts not having previously adopted
it, the Act taking effect from September 1st, 1915.
Under this Act it is necessary for all. Medical Practitioners and
Certified Midwives to notify to the Medical Officer of Health of their
respective areas, particulars of all births attended by them, and the Medical
Officer of Health is required to forward to the County Medical Officer of
Health duplicates of all notifications he receives.
In their Circular of July 29th, 1915, explaining to Local Authorities
the scope of this Act, and advising them of their obligations under it, the
Local Government Board urge the immediate adoption of local schemes for
the care of mothers and young children, and expressly desire that where a
complete scheme is not feasible at the present time provision should be made
for home visiting by the employment of a salaried Health Visitor, and they
point out that where Sanitary Authorities fail to avail themselves of the
facilities offered under the Act to effect this, either by independent action
or in combination with other areas uniting to form a joint area for the
purpose, County schemes will be formed to include such districts.
At the end of 1915 no scheme had been agreed upon in this district.