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since 1901, ceased to function except for the supply of additional
Quantities of milk to those babies found, on medical examination,
to require more than the official allowance of one pint daily.
Throughout the whole year the quantity supplied by the
Council amounted to the equivalent of 119,157 pints of
liquid milk, and the recipients numbered 1,371 persons, 74.1
Per cent. of the issue being free of charge and 25.9 per cent. at
reduced prices. More than 98 per cent. of these quantities were
issued before the coming into force of the Government Scheme.
These figures include the supply made through the Public Assistance
Committee under the arrangement made with the London
county Council. The cost incurred by the Council amounted to
approximately £1,974.
Dinners.—Women and children were still sent for dinners to
rooms of the Women's League of Service at Southlands,
but it is regretted that the kitchen of the Invalid Kitchens
Association in Henley Street, to which selected cases had previously
been sent, closed down in April.
Maternal Mortality.—3 deaths (2 from puerperal sepsis and
rom other puerperal causes), giving a maternal mortality rate
of 1.77 per 1,000 births, live and still.
Unmarried Mothers.—The usual grant of .£150 was made to
the southwark Diocesan Association. 13 Battersea mothers were
admitted to their Homes and stayed for 1,221 days.
Home Helps.—6 cases. Cost to Council, £22 18s. l0d.
A new scheme for the supply of home helps was adopted by
the Committee in March. A panel of six suitable women was
formed, and a scale of income drawn up for the assessment of
applicants' contributions. Owing to evacuation of mothers from
London, however, the scheme was very little used.
St. Thomas's Babies Hostel.—Transferred to Wiltshire on
the outbreak of War, and remained there during 1940, but in the
summer test feeding was resumed for a few weeks in London.
A Committee was formed to promote this revival of the hostel's
activities, and Mrs. Alderman Bowler was appointed to represent
the Council thereon. After a short period, however, the
occurrence of heavy bombing caused the experiment to be
abandoned. Work done.—Test feeding 48 cases, 78 attendances.
In-patients 20 (8 mothers, 12 babies), total stay 1,011 days. The
council decided to increase their annual grant from £200 to £400
per annum.
Nursing.—The District Nurses, under contract with the
council, paid 4,979 visits to 553 cases, of which 240 were patients
suffering from infectious disease.
The St. Margaret's Day Nursery, which was evacuated on
the outbreak of war, remained at Horsham throughout 1940 and
was used, in common with other evacuated nurseries, for
evacuees selected by a central committee. The Council continued
its financial grant.
Child Life Protection.—71 foster-mothers were still on the
register at the end of 1940, but only 15 of these had nursechildren
(to the number of 17) in their care. The health visitors
paid 480 visits to foster-mothers.