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251 in Eltham, (corrected for children born in the Infirmary,
the Female Hospital, and the Wood Street Home
for Mothers and Babies, whose parents reside outside the
Borough); and the birth-rate, 23.2, compared with 23 0 in
tjhe previous year, and with 27.5, the average for the ten
years 1901-10. The rate for the County of London was 25.0.
Notification of Births. 2,543 births were notified under
the Notification of Births Act. This is at the rate of 91
per cent, of the registered births, compared with 83, 88, and
93 per cent, in 1908, 1909, and 1910. 1,476 births were
notified by midwives, 268 by the Home for Mothers and
Babies and Military Families Hospitals, and 531 by medical
practitioners. 68 still-births were notified.
The Notification of Births Act was adopted on March 1st,
1908. There "were 253 births last year which were ,not
notified. When any child is met with whose birth has not
been notified, the doctor or midwife who attended is written
to and warned. No cases have been found in which neglect
to notify appeared to be due otherwise than to oversight.
88 per cent, of births "were notified in Woolwich, 91 per
cent, in Plumstead Parish, and 93 per cent, in Eltham.
A card of instructions is sent to the mother of every child
at once on notification, and the Lady Health Visitor visits
in the course of the next week or two those mothers who are
considered to most need instruction. With very few exceptions
the advice is welcomed.
It was pointed out t,hat the code of instructions differed
from one issued by the London County Council, and on further
inquiry it was found that very considerable divergencies
existed in tjie directions for infant feeding and management