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tions, together with the consequent home visitation : (2) the provision of
midwifery both in institutions and in the patients' own homes: and (3) the
institutional treatment of sick children under school age.
Infant and Maternity Consultations.—In regard to the maternity and child
welfare centres, the needs of the Borough were already met to a considerable
extent by the thirteen voluntary centres. St. Pancras had taken a leading
part in this work, and though the funds had not been supplied from the
borough rates, the voluntary organizations had always been closely associated
with the work of the Health Department. The Medical Officer of Health had,
in fact, suggested the institution of most of the centres, and he and members
of the Department were on the Committee (in some cases in the chair) of all
the centres except those at the hospitals. The representation of the centres
on the Maternity and Child Welfare Sub-Committee had established a still
closer link. The work of the centres was cramped for want of money and it
was felt that continued reliance upon voluntary funds would prevent its
proper development. At the same time it was desired to preserve the co-operation
of the voluntary workers at the centres, and to retain, as far as possible,
the sources of voluntary funds for further experimental and pioneer work,
especially in the more purely sociological direction. It was therefore decided
to pay in full the fees of the medical officers at the centres and the salaries
of the superintendents and health visitors attached to them. At the end of
1918 this involved the payment of the medical officers (at the rate of One
Guinea per consultation) for 16 consultations every week and 7 other consultations
every month, in addition to a weekly clinic for sick mothers and children;
and 8 full-time and 4 part-time superintendents and health visitors attached
to the centres. This is exclusive of the staff of the centre at University College
Hospital, which did not accept the Council's financial assistance, though
continuing to co-operate in the borough scheme, and the medical officers at the
other hospital centres Since the end of the year the number of consultations
and visitors paid for by the Council has been increased. The Council also
undertook the responsibility for the rent (and rates and taxes) of the premises
of the centres where such payments were made. Only two of them (St. Paneras
Scho >1 for Mothers and Argyle Square Centre) had full-time premises,
two (Grafton Road and South Highgate Centres) worked in part-time premises
in the public library and public baths lent by the Council, and the rest
in mission-rooms given up to their use on certain days in the week. It was
also arranged that two others (North St. Pancras and Camden Town Centres)
should have full-time premises for which the Council would pay the rent and
also the expense of equipment, but suitable premises for this purpose have not
yet been obtained.
Midwifery.—In regard to midwifery work, also, there was a great deal
already done by voluntary agencies. About one-third of all St. Pancras births
were attended gratis or at reduced charges by doctors, medical students and
midwives sent to the mothers' own homes by hospitals and the Maternity
Nursing Association; and one-sixth took place in various maternity hospitals
within and without the borough. It was not thought necessary to take the
full expense of this work on the rates, nor, as an immediate step, to provide
new intern or extern midwifery facilities, and it was therefore decided to make