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21
Midwives Act, 1902.—The Midwives' roll for 1906 contained
the names of 134 Certified Midwives residing in West Ham.
Only 49 midwives sent in notice of their intention to practice
during the year in accordance with Section 10 of the Act. 385 records
of sending for medical aid were received from midwives, and 69 notices
of still-birth.
In March, 1906, the Central Midwives Board issued a useful
synopsis showing particulars of administration of the Midwives Act
by Local Supervising Authorities in England and Wales.
Of the midwives practising in West Ham, 17 were uncertificated
and placed on the roll by virtue of their having been in bona fide
practice prior to the passing of the Act. The larger part of the confinements
attended by women are treated by the midwives attached to
the Plaistow Maternity Charity, and by the courtesy of these and the
other practising midwives the following figures have been supplied,
showing the number of confinements attended in 1906:—
(a) Attended by midwives from Howard's Road 2,178
(b) „ „ ,, LansdowneRoad 1,184
(c) „ other practising midwives 1,289
4,651
Infant Mortality.—The deaths in infants under one year of
age numbered 1,368, giving a rate of 148 per 1,000 births, a slight fall
as compared with the previous year, when the rate was 156. The
infant mortality rate, as in the case of the general death rate, varies
considerably in the different Wards of the Borough, as can be seen by
the Table given on page 9. In order to combat this grave misfortune
it is the practice of the Women Inspectors to visit as many houses
as possible where births have occurred and, as explained in previous
reports, to enquire into the condition of the premises, the mode of
feeding, Ac., and if the latter be found defective to leave printed advice
prepared by myself on the subject.