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24
The scale of necessity that was provisionally adopted was the same as was
being used in several large Boroughs. On account of the largely increased number of
applications for assisted milk and food it was thought that stricter methods of enquiry
respecting the family income should be adopted and we began to make inquiries
through the Mutual Registration of Assistance to ascertain whether assistance was
being given from other sources. It was also felt that some alteration in the scale
of necessity should also be made. About a month after this system of additional
enquiry had been in operation the matter was fully considered by the Maternity and
Child Welfare Committee, and definite procedure was laid down for dealing with all
applications. A revised and graduated scale of income was adopted and arrangements
made for the verification of incomes given by applicants, by inquiries of employers,
etc., and for preventing overlapping. A Rota Committee was appointed to meet weekly
and all applications come before this Committee for primary consideration or review.
The numerous enquiries and detailed work connected with the administration
of the above, including the examination of the many milk accounts received monthly,
occupied much of the time of the Public Health Department.
Exclusive of prepared milk 356 cases received free or assisted milk or food during
the year. This number included 90 who were receiving such assistance at the beginning
of the year on orders issued in 1019. The 266 new cases received assistance on orders
issued in 1920 as follows :—
109 Nursing mothers received free milk.
39 Expectant mothers received free milk.
70 Children under 5 years of age received free milk.
35 Nursing mothers received assisted milk.
10 Expectant mothers received assisted milk.
39 Children under 5 years of age received assisted milk.
30 Nursing mothers received free food (dinner or eggs).
14 Expectant mothers received free food (dinner or eggs).
6 Children under 5 years of age received free food (eggs).
2 Nursing mothers received assisted food (dinner or eggs).
1 Expectant mother received assisted food (dinner or eggs).
1 Child under 5 years of age received assisted food (eggs).
356
It will be seen that 356 orders were issued for 266 cases. This was necessary
owing to many variations required in the orders, e.g., from free to assisted milk
or vice versa, variations in quantity, etc.
Puerperal Fever.—Only one case of puerperal fever was notified. The patient
was removed to hospital and soon afterwards died.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—The number of notifications of ophthalmia neonatorum
received last year were 16, compared with only 7 in 1919, and an average of 6