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25
I feel bound to admit that these two duties of notification
and registration are most confusing to the public mind, and,
personally, I should like to see the Notification of Births Act
repealed and it made compulsory to register the birth of the
child within 5 days of the event. This would remove all confusion,
and I believe would be found to be of greater usefulness
to health officials than the present dual method.
Work of the Health Visitor.
In connection with the Notification of Births Act a
much larger number of visits has been made during 1911
than in previous years. During 1911 the number of homes
visited by the Nurse was 208, and the number of visits was
272. The Nurse shewed great zeal in visiting these homes
during the period when diarrhoea was so prevalent.
Knowing the greater chances of survival among breast>fed
infants this most desirable method of feeding is advocated
wherever possible. The Nurse reports that, out of the 208
visited, 139 of the babies were breast-fed.
In addition to her work in connection with the Notification
of Births Act the Health Visitor made 41 visits after
notification of Phthisis.