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76
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Milk and Food.
The Council decided on the 11th April, 1918, to supply, under
the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, milk free of cost to necessitous
expectant and nursing mothers, and to children under five years
of age. This scheme came into force on the 1st May, 1918.
In March, 1921, in Circular 185, the Ministry of Health limited
the supply of free milk to nursing mothers, to expectant mothers
during the last three months of pregnancy, and to infants and
children up to three years of age. Between the ages of three and
five years milk may be given on a medical certificate.
All applications are investigated, and on the 1st April, 1921, a
form of application was adopted, to be filled in by the husband
and signed by both husband and wife. Should the income per
head, after deducting rent, fall below the scale approved by the
Council, as shown in the subjoined table, a 1 lb. packet of dried
milk is supplied weekly to an expectant or nursing mother, and to
a child under three years of age. In special cases cows' milk
is supplied on production of a medical certificate. Two pints of
milk, or its equivalent in dried milk, is the maximum amount granted
to one family.
Cases in which the average income was slightly over the scale
and there was need of extra milk, were supplied with milk or dried
milk at half cost.
During 1922 1,067 familes were supplied with free milk at a
cost to the Borouerh Council of /l .845 13s. 3d.