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39
During the year, from the end of January until the middle
of February, an outbreak of Pemphigus Neonatorum occurred in
the practice of the District Midwife. During this period 9 infants
were attacked. Fortunately the disease was mild in type and
complete recovery took place in each case. Pemphigus Neonatorum
may be a very fatal disease, and, moreover, is highly contagious.
All the necessary precautions were taken to limit the spread of
infection, and the Midwife was sent away for two weeks' holiday
prior to resuming her practice on the district. Following her
resumption of duty, no further cases of this disease occurred.
The number of cases attended by the District Midwife during
the four years 1931-4 was on average 187 per annum, as compared
with an average of 132 in the four years immediately preceding.
The Health Committee, feeling that the midwife could not be
reasonably expected to deal with so many cases, made arrangements
with a trained midwife already in practice in the Borough, that her
services could be called on in emergency and when the District
Midwife was not on duty. This arrangement came into force in
June, and 18 of the confinements between 29th June and 31st
December were conducted by the relief midwife. These figures
are included in the summary above.
In June the Council adopted a scale upon which to assess the
fees payable by applicants for the services of the District Midwife.
Southwark Diocesan Homes.
For some years past the Council has contributed towards the
cost of the maintenance during the period before and after confinement
of unmarried mothers and their children resident in the district,
by the Southwark Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare, in St.
Mary's House, Macaulay Road, Wandsworth, which is an institution
affiliated to the Council's Maternity and Child Welfare scheme.
They also contributed to the cost of Battersea unmarried mothers
who are sent into other approved homes by the Association.
The Council have since April, 1933, made a contribution of
£150 per annum, in lieu of per capita payments formerly made.
The number of Battersea mothers received in the Association's
homes with their babies during 1935 was 6, and their average stay
about 110 days.
Home Helps.
Facilities are provided by the Council in suitable cases for
assistance in the home during the mother's lying-in period, and a
list of women recognised for the service is kept by the Health
Visiting staff, from which applicants are permitted to choose a
suitable woman, who is paid by the Council.
This service has not been used to the extent anticipated, and
during the past three years no application for the services of a
home help has been received.
Having obtained the views of the Ministry of Health upon
the subject the Committee in November authorised the extension
of this service to any case of temporary illness of an expectant or
nursing mother.