ABSTRACT

In this chapter, the author, Arthur Newsholme, presents his thoughts on Public Administration and Child Health. In 1915 the Notification of Births Act came into force over the whole of England and Wales. It has enabled prompt visits to be made to advise the mother as to the hygiene of infancy. The object of child welfare work is to ensure that each parent has within reach accurate counsel as to the hygiene of childhood, and as to the general and domestic conditions necessary for ensuring its maintenance. In 1911 a step was taken to assist in securing more exact information as to deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis. In the Annual Report for 1913, the author summarised the history of the work of voluntary and official agents in promoting health visiting and consultations. In the Annual Report 1914-15, the author noted that child welfare work was being pursued notwithstanding the altered social circumstances produced by the Great War.