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systematically available for expectant mothers and for children till they
were entered on a school register, and that arrangements should be
made for home visitation throughout this period.
It was also announced that grants would be available for Schools
for Mothers.
The Board stated that in a complete scheme on this subject the
following elements would be comprised, each of which would, in this
connection, be organised in its direct bearing on infantile health,
viz.:—
1.—Arrangements for the local supervision of Midwives.
2.—Arrangements for anti-natal conditions.
3.—Arrangements for natal conditions.
4.—Arrangements for post-natal conditions.
A Special Sub-Committe of the Public Health Committee was
appointed to consider the subject, and to enquire how far the matters
referred to were in operation—wholly or partially—and whether any
arrangements suggested by the Board and not at present in operation in
the Borough could with advantage be instituted, and a report was submitted
to the Board giving full details of the work that is being done in
Ilampstead in this connection.
The opportunity was taken of pointing out the real source of
danger which exists in the presence of unskilled and untrained nurses,
who are to some extent working with or after medical practitioners, and
it was suggested that their elimination or effective control would be a
great improvement.
The Board was informed of the scheme that has been framed in
this Borough, which permits of the systematic advice, supervision and
treatment of all infants from birth up to the age of five years. By
co-operation with the Provident Dispensaries, all children on the books
of the Dispensaries under school age are to be medically examined by
one of the staff of the Provident Dispensaries, and a full report of the
child's physical condition submitted to a Committee appointed to consider
it. This supervision is on a par with the medical supervision of school
children after five years, and the arrangements entered into also include
the treatment by the Provident Dispensary of any defects found. Twothirds
of the contribution to the Dispensary are to be paid by the parents,
and one-third by the Council of Social Welfare, who, in addition to this
one-third, pay the whole of the cost of regular supervision and operations