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39
PUBLIC HEALTH.
(a) Accommodation for Measles.
Representations have been made to the Local Government
Board in support of the action taken by the Battersea
Borough Council in favour of authority being given to the
Metropolitan Asylums Board to provide hospital accommodation
for cases of measles.
(b) Diagnosis of Diphtheria.
Arrangements have been made with the Lister Institute
of Preventive Medicine, whereby medical men practising in
the Borough are enabled to have, at the Council's expense,
bacteriological examinations made of specimens from the
throats of persons within the Borough suspected to be suffering
from diphtheria.
(c) By-laws as to Houses let in Lodgings.
After some correspondence with the Local Government
Board, the Borough Council, upon the Board's suggestion,
adopted a new series of by-laws with respect to Houses let in
Lodgings, or occupied by members of more than one family,
which were allowed by the Local Government Board on the
10th October, 1905, and whereby the by-laws made by the
Council's predecessors on the 8th January, 1896, were
repealed. By the new by-laws the limit of rental in the
exemption clause was increased in the case of unfurnished
rooms from 5s. to 7s. 6d. per week, and in the case of
furnished rooms from 8s. to 10s. per week.
(d) Infantile Mortality.
In view of the high rate of infantile mortality in the
Borough, the Borough Council, upon a report of its Public
Health Committee, decided on the 7th February, 1906, to
appoint a Lady Health Visitor, whose duties would include
inquiry into the births and deaths of infants in the poorer
parts of the Borough, and the giving of advice as to the care
and feeding of infants. It was subsequently determined that
the salary of the office should be £100 per annum, and that
the person to be appointed should have special knowledge or
practical experience in matters of hygiene, and particularly
in the feeding, nursing and rearing of children.