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39
We took over 112 foster-mothers, who had 174
foster-children in their care, and at the end of
the year we had 100 foster-mothers registered,
with a total of 137 foster-children in their care.
Two foster-children died during the year, whilst
there were 46 foster-mothers on the register on
31st December, 1933, who had no children in
their care.
The work of this section is varied and interesting,
involving, as it does, frequent visits to places
outside the Borough ; and many legal points arise.
The type of home varies considerably, but it has
been interesting to me, when visiting, to see the
loving care which surrounds most of these children,
and it is astonishing to find that foster-mothers
will often keep children for an indefinite period
without payment rather than give them up after
having become attached to them.
Unfortunately, until Miss Perrett took over
the work, it was rather rare for foster-mothers to
bring these children to the clinics ; but I am glad
to say that this is being remedied, though naturally
it is difficult for her to persuade the older
foster-mothers that this is desirable.
An entirely new system of clerical administration
was evolved by Mr. Hurford, the Chief Clerk,
when the Council took over this work, and it
goes very smoothly.
As will be seen later, the ante-natal visits paid
by the Health Visitors during the past year have
been nearly doubled. As this type of visit is apt
to be long and sometimes difficult, a great deal
of the Health Visitors' time is taken up by them,
but, in my opinion, very usefully.
The number of ante-natal and other reports
required by hospitals and such institutions has
increased steadily. The Maternity and Child