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35
CONVALESCENCE.
Three nursing mothers with their babies were admitted to St. Mary's Convalescent Home,
Birchington-on-Sea, for varying periods of convalescence. In one case the Council paid the
whole cost, in the other two contributions were made by the head of the family.
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
During the year six maternal deaths were enquired into by Dr. E. Dorothy Fenwick,
the Council's medical investigator, and reports thereon were forwarded to the Maternal
Mortality Committee of the Ministry of Health.
ADMINISTRATION.
GENERAL.
Staff of the Department.—Mr. J. W. Webster, Senior Sanitary Inspector, retired from
the Council's service on November 9th, and Mr. T. Mitchell was designated Senior Sanitary
Inspector as from that date. The vacancy on the inspectorial staff was filled by the appointment
of Mr. E. Marshall, who commenced his duties on November 24th.
Mr. C. T. Wyatt, who had been engaged in a temporary capacity on the clerical staff
of the Department was appointed an officer in the Council's service as from March 26th.
Mr. C. H. F. Drake was appointed Junior Clerk as from August 18th.
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—Visits of enquiry after notification of infectious disease
numbered 6,770. This figure excludes visits in connection with tuberculosis, which are recorded
elsewhere in this report.
The removals to hospitals and other institutions for various diseases other than tuberculosis
numbered 1,211.
In connection with the arrangement between the Council and the Paddington and St.
Marylebone District Nursing Association, 270 patients (comprising 187 cases of measles, 67 of
pneumonia, 12 of whooping-cough, and 4 of ophthalmia neonatorum) were visited in their homes
by the nurses of the Association. The visits paid to such patients numbered 3,289.
Disinfection.—The rooms disinfected after infectious disease numbered 1,271, including
202 rooms disinfected after tuberculosis.
The weight of bedding, etc., removed for disinfection at the Wood Lane Disinfecting
Station, under the agreement with the Kensington Borough Council, amounted to nearly
30 tons.
Two hundred and forty-one library books were disinfected.
Schools.—A total of 4,231 notices relating to cases of infectious disease was despatched
to the Head Teachers of the various schools attended by patients or their " contacts," 3,414
of such notices referring to cases of measles, whooping-cough and chicken-pox, and the remainder
to cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever and other notifiable diseases. In addition 486 reports were
sent to the medical officers of health of other boroughs in connection with cases attending
outlying schools.
Bacteriological Work.—The Council have an arrangement with the Royal Institute of
Public Health, 37, Russell Square, W.C.1, for the bacteriological examination, at the expense
of the Council, of specimens sent by medical practitioners of Paddington patients suspected
to be suffering from diphtheria or typhoid fever.
All specimens are collected at the Town Hall and transmitted to the Institute by
special messenger. The results are generally available the next morning, and are telephoned
to the medical practitioner concerned.
Examinations of sputa from patients suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis of the
lungs are undertaken by the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary, 20, Talbot Road.

House Drainage.—During the year 33 existing drains were tested and found water-tight,
128 defective drains were reconstructed and 8 made sound by special process.