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which are needed in each case. Special attention is paid to the nutrition of the expectant mother;
new ante-natal record cards are in use at the centres on which the diet of the individual mother is
recorded; each case is discussed in detail and supplemented by grants of free dinners, milk, adexolin
and iron when necessary.
In last year's report, attention was drawn to the disquieting prevalence of induced abortion in
the borough and the propaganda which was being directed against this practice was mentioned.
It is believed that this propaganda has resulted in a diminution in the incidence of abortion during
1936 owing to the increasing knowledge of the dangers of this practice.
The importance of post-natal examination is fully recognised in the borough and every woman
is advised to attend a post-natal clinic after her confinement, in order that treatment may be obtained
for any disability discovered and that it may be assured that the woman's health is in a fit state to
stand the strain of a subsequent pregnancy.
It appears as if it may now be claimed that the devotion which the council and the maternity
and child welfare committee have paid to their maternity services in recent years has resulted in a
well co-ordinated scheme of co-operation between the various agencies by which the problem of the
care of the expectant mother has been satisfactorily solved.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Staff of the Council's Public Health Department.
A list of the total staff engaged in the public health department at the end of 1936 will be found
in Appendix II, Table VI.
Bacteriological Work.
The council's bacteriological work is carried out in the laboratory at the Princess Louise
Hospital. The bacteriologist is Dr. Bessie Cadness, who was appointed jointly by the council and
the hospital. She gives part-time services to both authorities and is also engaged on the staff of
another London hospital.

Child Life Protection.
At the end of the year there were in the borough 124 foster-mothers, and they had the care of
166 children under the age of nine years who had been taken for reward. One of the council's
health visitors holds the appointment of child life protection visitor, and pays frequent visits
to every home where a foster-child is kept. Eighty-five of the foster-children are under the age
of five years, and all but eight, who are seen regularly by private doctors, are in regular attendance
at infant welfare centres.