[Report 1910] / Medical Officer of Health, Chatham Borough.
- Chatham (Kent, England). Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1910
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1910] / Medical Officer of Health, Chatham Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![past few years. This latter phase of work is now much facilitated by the adoption of the Notification of Birthsi Act, 1907, which came into operation in this Borough on July 5th, 1910. Before entering on an account of the duties performed under this Act, I would say that all the work carried out by outside agencies of this character, al- though valuable, especially in its educational effect, is insignificant in 'comparison with the results that can be achieved by a careful mother who nurses her own infant. Over and over again it is noticed that the physical well-being of a child, whether its parents are rich or poor, is in direct proportion to the intelligent care and attention which is given tO‘ it, and especially as to whether it is breast-fed or bottle-fed, and I would place natural feeding and personal attention by the mother in front of all other agencies for the preservation of infant life. NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS ACT, 1907.—This Act has only been in force in your District for six months, and therefore the data available are not sufficient tu enable one to‘ form an accurate judgment as to its effects. By this Act the duty of notifying the birth of an infant is imposed on the father of the child, and on the person in attendance on the mother at, or within tsix hours after the birth, and in practice this duty falls on the medical attendant or midwife;, who must send a prepaid letter or postcard (supplied by the Local Authority) to the Medical Officer of Health within thirty-six hours after the birth. The Act is permissive in character, but when a Local Authority decides to adopt it, they must satisfy the Local Grovernment Board that they have made suitable arrangements for carrying out its pro- visions. This has been done by the appointment of the School Nurse, who, in addition to her duties as such, visits, makes inquiries, gives advice respecting management, and reports particulars of all cases notified under the Act. The procedure adopted, the period of and the number of visits to be paid, and the nature of the advice given, are all in conformity with a schedule of instructionsi which I drew up, and which received the approval of your Sanitary Committee. In all cases attended by Midwives, four routine visits are paid:—first at the end of the first week, when ]3articulars are obtained and recorded, again at the end of the second week, whilst the third and fourth visits are paid at the end of the first and second month. In doctors’ cases this routine is modified—fewer visits are paid, and no cases are visited if there is;any objection on the part of the parent or medical attendant, nor is advice as to; management given during the attendance of the doctor, it being presumed that he is best /able to judge of the re- quirements of the case under his care. The leaflet issued by the Health Department on the bringing](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29098907_0008.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
