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The visits of the nurse are best made fairly early, 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. I am still of the opinion that better results
would bo obtained if the Notification of Births Act was rep?aled
and the Registration Act so amended as to make all
births registerable within, say, five days.
The nurse has instructions to report at once any collection
of rubbish or manure which would form a breeding
ground for flies, or in any other way cause a nuisance.
While making her domiciliary visits in connection with
(he Notification of Births Act and the treatment of School
Children, the nurse has an eye to any other children that
may be in the home, and if there is any defect calling for
notice the parent is advised what to do, or the matter is
brought to the notice of the Children's Care Committee,
which the nurse is a member. Should the case be necessitous,
relief, or other help, is given.
Summary of the work done in this connection by the
lady health visitor:—
Number of houses visited—186.
Number of visits paid—301.
Proportion of births visited to total births—approximate,
19.7 per cent. (last year 17.4 per cent).
Of the 186 infants visited, 135 (72.5 per cent.) were
breast fed.
Mother Craft.—A Creche has now been opened in
Squires Lane. Special instruction is given to the elder girls
in the Public Elementary Schools, and it is proposed to use
the Creche for practical demonstrations in the very important
matters relating to the care of young children.