IXFAXTILE i:Or;TALITT. 693 



48 hours, and further, that no burial should take place without a 

 medical certificate. 



As notification of births has a veiy important bearing upon the 

 prevention of infantile nioi-tality, we cannot do better than follow this 

 good example and recommend to the proper authorities the 

 advisribility of all births and still-births being notified within a 

 period of 48 hours of their occurrence. 



It is important that the health authorities and the Medical 

 Officer of Health to the Local Aiithorities be provided with particulars 

 as to births within the respective areas of the latter at the earliest 

 possible moment. 



With regard to the births of illegitimate children, police investi- 

 gation is provided for in the case of every illegitimate child bom in 

 this State, bv the provisions of " The Infant Life Frotection Act of 

 1905." 



As a percentage only of illegitimate children find their way into 

 registered homes, police inspection cannot be closely carried out in 

 those cases where the parents or relatives take charge of the child, 

 or in the cases of adoption. 



While it is not a fact, necessarily, that illegitimate chiMren 

 are born less healthy than legitimate children, it is a fact that many 

 n\ore illegitimates die in infancy than legitiinate children. 



Even in some of the States of the Commonwealth the proportion 

 is two or three times as high as among those of legitimate births. 



The extremely high death-rate among the children who were thus 

 l)om, has been ascribed by some authorities to the neglect of the 

 putative father to recognise his parental responsibility, by con- 

 tributing either to the expenses incidental to the birth, or to the 

 subsequent maintenance of the child. 



While the sole burden falls on the mother, the result is too 

 ■often a recourse to the baby farmer. 



There can be little doubt that in a certain proportion of cases 

 the existence of the child is, in itself, a strong incentive to do away 

 with it, especially in such cases where, in addition to her shame, the 

 woman has also to bear poverty. 



That cruelty is pei-petrated on this class of child is evident 

 by the fact that a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children 

 is existent, and that complaints more or less well founded are not 

 uncommon. 



" The Infant Life Frotection Act of 1905 " rs now administered 

 by the Police Department, and, in his Annual Report for 1907, the 

 Commissioner of Police points out the fact that the full intention 

 of tlie Legislature cannot be given effect to till periodical inspection 

 of nursing homes by medical men is aiTanged for. 



I can quite agi'ee with my fellow Commissioner that the 

 inspection, feeding, and nursing of infants I'eceived into these homes 

 are matters more naturally pertaining to the duties of trained 

 medical officers of health than to the police. 



A Midwives Act is urgently needed in Queensland. Some 

 administrative body entrusted with the examination and certification 

 of obstetric nurses is essential. 



