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28
The fall of the birth-rate still continues and makes it
more important to take all possible steps to diminish the
death-rate at the earlier ages.
Notification of Births. 2,506 live births were notified
under the Notification of Births Act. This is at the rate of
89 per cent. of the registered births, compared with 88, 93,
91, 94, and 92 per cent. in the five preceding years. 1,460
births were notified by midwives, 274 by the Home for
Mothers and Babies and Military Families Hospital, 394 by
medical practitioners, and 378 by other persons. 59 stillbirths
were notified (64 and 79 in 1912, 1913 respectively).
The Notification, of Births Act was adopted on March 1st,
1908. There were 318 births last year which were not
notified. Five midwives were warned for neglect to notify.
890 live births, or 93 per cent., were notified in Woolwich
parish, 1,429, or 88 per cent., in Plumstead parish, and 187,
or 75 per cent., in Eltharn.
The principal decrease in notification was in Eltham parish.
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 two weeks those mothers who are
considered to most need instruction. With very few exceptions
the advice is welcomed.
All mothers are invited to bring their infants for weighing
and advice at the Town Hall, where an Infant Consultation
is held every Wednesday afternoon by the Lady Health