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24
The following shews how the Act has been observed during
the year:—

Total number who notified.—906.
Number of people who notified without a letter—708=
75 per cent, of all births (last year 74 per cent, were notified).
Number of letters sent—198.
Number of people who had not notified up to and including
December 31st, 1911—34.
The Health Visitor usually makes her call about 10 days
after the birth of the child. In this way I find that all friction
is avoided, as by this time the midwife lias usually ceased her
attendance, and there is no complaint of interference.
Enquiry is made as to the methods of feeding, etc., and a
printed card is left giving detailed directions as to how to
feed the infant, etc. The personal advice and supervision
of the Nurse is, however, of the greatest value, as very often
the people for whom these cards are prepared are too
indifferent to read them.
The earlier these visits of the Nurse can be made the
better, but in the very cases where they are most necessary
information first reaches us through the weekly returns of the
Registrar, and by then the child, if it has survived, is usually
six or seven weeks' old.