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The Notification of Births Act, 1907, has not been adopted in the Borough of
Stepney. It is undoubtedly of great advantage in districts that have Health
Visitors on the Staff of the Public Health Department. Without these officers, I
doubt whether the Act is of any great value. The time will probably come when
the Act will be made compulsory.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1908, enables the Council
to pay a moiety of the salaries of Health Visitors to the Borough Councils.
It will be observed that there is a tendency in recent public health legislation
to encourage local authorities to take steps to lower the infantile mortality by
appointing Health Visitors.
I have enumerated above, certain duties that are often allocated to Health
Visitors. If all these duties were to be systematically and thoroughly carried out,
one health visitor would be inadequate in the Borough of Stepney. One
health visitor could, however, be of great benefit if she was localised in a small
area where the infantile mortality is abnormally high. In addition to visiting the
mothers in this area, her time could be usefully employed in organising and
assisting the work of voluntary health visitors who assist in health visiting in the
Borough, visiting homes where Phthisis cases are notified, making enquiries and
giving instructions in the case of non-notifiable infectious diseases, e.g., Measles and
Whooping Cough, and in the Inspection for Public Lavatories for women.
Deaths of Illegitimate Children.
There were 53 deaths of illegitimate children during the year, or at the rate of
306 per 1,000 births.
15 belonged to the Limehouse District, or at the rate of 576 per 1,000
births.
15 belonged to St. George-in-the-East, or at the rate of 220 per 1,000
births.
9 belonged to Mile End Old Town, or at the rate of 300 per 1,000
births.
14 belonged to the Whitechapel District, or at the rate of 285 per 1,000
births.
Old Age.
244 deaths were due to Old Age. This corresponds to a death-rate of .78
per 1,000.
72 belonged to the Limehouse District, or at the rate of 1.22 per 1,000.
21 belonged to St. George's, or at the rate of .39 per 1,000.
106 belonged to Mile End, or at the rate of .89 per 1,000.
45 belonged to the Whitechapel District, or at the rate of .55 per 1,000