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In view of these conditions, it seemed therefore unnecessary to promote any
definite scheme making provision for any of the before-mentioned items, other
than those referring to foods for infants and assistance to nursing and expectant
mothers.
The provision of food for expectant and nursing mothers, and for children
under five years of age, has been approved, and a sum of £150 per annum has been
set aside for that purpose. This sum is in addition to an annual grant of £120
which is made by the Corporation for the supply of milk to necessitous mothers
who breast-feed their infants, and a grant of £20 per annum for the supply
of dried milk for the infants of mothers who are unable to breast-feed their
children.
In addition to the above, a "Mothers Welcome" is established, and this is
held Weekly at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where two rooms have been reserved
for the purpose by the authorities of the hospital.
In addition to the above, a sum of £25 has been set aside for the provision of
expert home nursing in complicated cases of measles.
It was at first decided to authorise the Maternity and Child Welfare work
to be carried out by the Sanitary Committee, which Committee also carried out
the work in connection with the Tuberculosis After-Care. In the early part of 1920,
however, it was decided that the Sanitary Committee should delegate their responsibilities
with regard to both the Maternity and Child Welfare work and the
Tuberculosis After-Care to a special Sub-Committee of seven members, two of
whom were to be ladies, which Sub-Committee should report from time to time
to the Sanitary Committee as may be necessary. This Committee has been duly
appointed and approved, and on the Lady Mayoress (Lady Cooper) and Miss
Crosby is the distinction conferred of being the first lady members attached to
a Standing Committee of the Corporation.
infectious diseases.
Very few comments are necessary with reference to the incidence of infectious
disease during the year 1919.
Diphtheria was prevalent to the extent of 21 cases as compared with 18 in 1918
The number of scarlet fever cases was 16, exactly the same as in the previous year.
Erysipelas showed a decrease from seven to two, and there was one case of poliomyelitis.
Only 18 cases of measles were reported, as compared with 82 notified
in 1918; and 17 cases of rubella were recorded. Chicken-pox was not so prevalent
as in the previous year, in the proportion of 13 cases to 44. The percentage of
cases removed to hospital was somewhat higher than in 1918.
During 1919 cases of small-pox were reported at different times in various
neighbourhoods. No cases were reported in the City; numerous contacts, however,
with outside cases came to my knowledge. These were visited and kept under
observation, and where necessary, vaccination was advocated.
In each instance of notified disease a detailed examination is made of the
sanitary condition of the premises where the case occurred, and a summary of
defects found by the District Inspector is given on page
No case of small-pox, cholera, plague, typhus, relapsing, continued or puerperal
fever, anthrax, cerebro-spinal meningitis or ophthalmia neonatorum have been
reported.
Fuller information is set out in the tables appended.
NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.—In the following tables
will be found particulars of certificates relating to cases of infectious disease