ASSOCIATION FOR PROMOTING THE TRAINING AND SUPPLY . OF MIDWIVES.
LTo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SLR,—The death-rate of infants has been reduced in recent years from 150 to 80 per thousand births, a striking and cheering fact. Unfortunately, the death-rate of mothers from Puerperal fever has not decreased, although it is admittedly a preventable disease. Up to 1902 any person, clean or dirty, intelligent or ignorant, sober or drunk, could legally attend a woman at child-birth. The dangerous practice of the "Sairey Damps" was stopped by the Midwives' Act of 1902, under which it became a punishable offence to practise midwifery without the certificate of the Central Midwives Board. To gain this a woman must be of good character, and be trained by an approved institution or person. In the early days after 1902 the minimum period of training was necessarily made short—only four months—and the condi- tions fairly easy in order that women should not be frightened from the profession and be able to earn quickly. To some extent efficiency had, therefore, to be sacrificed to expediency. The minimum period of training, except for trained hospital nurses, is now six months. Should this not be still further increased, and should not one -year, or even longer, be demanded for qualification for this vitally important profes- sion? Italy, Belgium, -Japan, and - Switzerland have a two years' training; Holland-has three years. Most of These carry-
good salaries, and in Denmark, Italy, Norway, and Sweden midwives are pensionable.
Tho Association for Promoting the Training and Supply of Midwives ha-s urged and worked for these improvements for many years, and the Secretary at Deere House, Dean Farrar Street, Westminster, will be glad to give any information to those interested or to probable candidates for the profession.— We are, Sir, &c.,
KATHERINE BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH. AGNES EBDEM
(Chairman of Committee Association for Promoting the Training and Supply of Midwives).
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