View report page

125
the closing of shell-fish layings where there is evidence to show that
the shell-fish from such layings have actually caused disease, or are
likely to be a source of danger to the public health. Legislation of
this nature was long overdue, and it is satisfactory that the local
authorities have at last obtained further powers for dealing with the
matter.
The Notification of Births (Extension) Act, 1915, was passed with
the object of making universal throughout the country the system of
the adoptive Act of 1907, under which early notification concerning all
births is required to be given to the medical officer of health, and also
to enable local authorities to make arrangements for the care of mothers,
including expectant mothers, and young children. In this connexion
an important circular letter on maternity and infant welfare was issued
to local authorities by the Local Government Board on July 30th,
indicating the scope of the work which they consider should be undertaken.
The Government have agreed to provide, by means of annual
grants to be distributed by the Local Government Board one-half of
the cost of the whole or any part of schemes for maternity and child
welfare approved by the Board, and Regulations under which grants
are payable were issued on July 7th. The Local Government Board
will not, however, pay grants under these Regulations in respect of
expenditure on "schools for mothers," which are eligible for aid under
the Regulations of the Board of Education of July 6th.
The Local Government Board regard the saving of lives of young
children suffering from measles as forming an important part of childwelfare
work, and to enable local authorities to adopt administrative
measures with this end in view the Board made an Order, entitled
"The Public Health (Measlesand German Measles) Regulations, 1915,"
by which a system of notification of these diseases is put into force
throughout England and Wales.
In February, a memorandum on cerebro-spinal fever was issued by
the Local Government Board for the guidance of medical officers of
health. Special emphasis was laid upon the importance of sanitary
authorities making arrangements for assisting medical practitioners to
obtain an immediate diagnosis in suspected cases of the disease, for
isolating patients suffering from it, for disinfection, and for the supervision
of contacts. In view of the difficulty connected with the accurate
diagnosis of the malady, the Board expressed their willingness to
undertake the examination in their pathological laboratory of cerebrospinal
fluid sent to them for this purpose. Local authorities were also