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81
(12 and 13) Are matters of common experience.
Now, having shown that you have used all your powers
to deal with general sanitation, etc., I should like to indicate
what other steps you have taken to protect Infant Life.
(1) In 1907 you adopted the Notification of Births Act,
which provides for your Medical Officer of Health being
notified of every birth within 36 hours of its occurrence. A
lady Health-Visitor who is a trained and experienced Nurse
was then appointed; she visits those homes where a birth has
occurred in cases where the Medical Officer of Health considers
it would be desirable, gives personal and printed instructions
as regards Infant Feeding and Management, and
reports any insanitary conditions which may be present. At
times when there appears to be especial danger to Infant Life
from Diarrhoea, she and the Sanitary Inspectors make
frequent visits to those parts of the district where such cases
are occurring, and for the time being the greatest attention
is directed to these.
(2) Premises where' milk is sold are under constant
supervision, and you are one of the few Authorities who have
obtained powers to make periodical inspection of the dairy
cattle by a Veterinary Surgeon and Medical Officer. These
inspections are made quarterly by your Veterinary and
Medical Officers.
Although this cannot affect anything more than a small
part of the milk consumed in Finchley, yet it is all you can
do, and you thereby set an example to other Authorities.
Realising the great wastage of Infant and Child Life
which is due to ignorance of Infant Care and Welfare, your
Education Committee have long included this subject in the
excellent course on Domestic Subjects which is given to the
elder girls in our Elementary Schools, and have recently
extended this by subsidising the Creche Committee to permit
the Creche to be used for giving practical instruction in this
vitally important subject. I have used my position as your
Medical Officer to assist and co-operate in the voluntary