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14
of Births and Deaths Act, 1874, which requires information
concerning the birth of every child born alive to be given to
the Registrar within 42 days next after the birth.
The Act of 1907 is intended to assist the local authorities
in endeavouring to reduce the rate of infantile mortality.
It has been found that the advice of a properly trained
Health Visitor is of much assistance to mothers in the poorer
districts of large towns, the loss of infant lives being to a
very large extent due to preventable causes such as ignorance
on the part of the mother.
In order to carry out this Act a Lady Health Visitor
has been appointed whose duty it is to visit all parents of
newly-born infants, whom the medical man in attendance
thinks would benefit by advice and instruction.
Letter cards are supplied to each medical man practising
in the district who intimates whether they wish the Health
Visitor to call. Her visits are much appreciated by some of
the medical men, and by some of the parents, and it is hoped
that when bettor known her services may be more often
called upon.
Since April, 635 notifications have been received, and 124
visits have been paid.