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67
to themselves as well as to the community and on
grounds of humanity, as well as public policy, are to
be deplored.
INFANTILE DIARRHœA.
Only 6 cases of Infantile Diarrhoea were investigated
by the Health Visitors during the year at the
homes of children following information received from
the Queen's Hospital, although there were many more
deaths from the disease, as will have been seen from
the death returns. The disease not being notifiable I
am dependent upon fortuitous information for any
public action. The reports do not call for any special
comment. j
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE
DEVELOPMENTS.
Children under School Age.
We have now reached the limits of possible
activity with our existing staff and the premises for
Maternity and Child Welfare purposes. The latter
is perhaps the more urgent problem. Thornton Hall
cannot be regarded as a satisfactory Welfare Centre
and alternative premises, preferably under the direct
control of the Council, are most urgently needed in
this part of the district, while Centres to serve tha
North and South Wards are only slightly less urgent
requirements.
A joint circular letter from the Minister of Health
and the President of the Board of Education at the
end of 1929, drew attention to the serious defects often
observed in young children upon their entrance to
school and pointed out that such defects might be
largely prevented by more adequate supervision before
the children reached school age. Local authorities were
urged to review their existing provision for the needs
of these children. Arising out of this circular I submitted
the following report to the Public Health Committee:—