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The infantile mortality in the Limehouse District was at its highest in
1900. Curiously enough, the neighbouring district of St. George's had the
lowest mortality in this year. The high infantile mortality in the Limehouse
District in 1900 received the serious consideration of the late Limehouse Board
of Works. It was decided in this year to appoint Health Visitors to visit
and instruct mothers in the proper rearing of infants. The Local Government
Board refused to sanction the appointment of such officers and to give them
the same status as Sanitary Inspectors, which was necessary in order to have
half their salaries returned. The Limehouse Board, on the other hand,
refused to proceed with the appointments if they had to pay the whole of their
salaries. There the matter ended, except that pamphlets on the proper method
of rearing infants were distributed extensively throughout the district, by means
of Medical men practising in the district, district visitors, nurses, etc.
The matter was further considered by the Stepney Borough Council three
years ago. The Public Health Committee recommended the appointment of
Health Visitors, but the Council refused to approve of their recommendation.
Fortunately, a Health Visitor was appointed to a small district in the Borough
known as Limehouse Fields, through the kindness of a well-known nobleman
who paid her salary for two years. The Committee were very fortunate in
securing the services of Miss Forrester a lady holding the necessary certificates,
as well as possessing tact, which is quite as essential to the successful
carrying out of the duties involved. The district selected is bounded by
Commercial Road on the south, White Horse Street on the west, Ben Jonson
Road on the north, and the Canal on the east. This area was selected because
it had the highest infantile mortality, and the people inhabiting it changed
their homes less frequently, than in any other part of the Borough. Miss