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much needed. In cases where the father is unsatisfactory,
and probably out of work through his own
fault, it is impossible to get relief from the Guild of Help,
the local Relief Committees or the Parish. In the
latter case help being given only in actual illness.
I believe that a little money judiciously spent in
this way would do a great deal of building up the physique
of the children.
In Paris this plan has been found to work admirably.
EARLIER REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS.
In my reports I have frequently stated my reasons
for desiring the earlier registration of births.
Very few births are registered within six weeks
of the event, the time limit permitted by the Registration
Act, consequently the information reaches the Health
Visitors in some cases too late to be of use.
I am confident that the medical practitioners have
urged the parents to registc the births at the earliest
possible moment but without success.
I am therefore reluctantly compelled to recommend
the Council to adopt the Notification of Births Act.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Ninety-eight cases of infectious disease were certified
during the year. They were as follows:—Scarlet
Fever, 50; Diphtheria, 18; Erysipelas, 10; Enteric, 2;
Puerperal, 3; Chicken Pox, 15; there was one death
from Scarlet Fever, and one from Typhoid (Enteric)
Fever, but none from any other notifiable disease.
There was one death from Influenza and three
from Measles both of which are non-notifiable.
The above shows that six deaths were caused
by Infectious Diseases, and the population being 17,076
gives an Infectious Disease Death Rate of 0 29.
DIPHTHERIA.
Eighteen cases of this disease have been certified
during the year (as compared with 25 in 1910). There
was no death.