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of many public health duties bearing relation to infant
welfare.
It is debatable as to whether maternity and infant
welfare schemes are of real value to the community,
especially whilst such slums as the Brady Street area
exist, and although we are not prepared to advise that
such schemes are productive of all the benefits claimed
by Government authorities, we do advise that the Council
should take some step in the direction of organised effort
to combat the present wastage of infant life. In all the
circumstances we are of opinion that the Council should
now take steps in furtherance of a Maternity and Child
Welfare Scheme.
We therefore recommend —
(i) That the Council do refer to the Public
Health Committee the formulation of a Maternity
and Child Welfare Scheme for the Borough on the
lines indicated in the foregoing report, in accordance
with the suggestion made by the Local Government
Board.
(ii) That the Council do approve of the appointment
of a lady medical practitioner to act as Assistant
Medical Officer of Health at a salary of £350 per
annum, the appointment to be temporary, terminable
at three months' notice on either side, and
that it be referred to the Public Health Committee
to settle the terms and conditions of the
appointment, to issue advertisements, and to arrange
for three candidates to attend before the Council.
Recommendation No. 1 was adopted, but No. 2,
which provides for the appointment of an Assistant Medi-