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48
To deal with the main points of the Circular:—
(i) The Borough Council supply milk or dinners to expectant
and nursing mothers during the last five months of pregnancy
or earlier if recommended. Special arrangements are made
for the supply of milk and eggs during the week-ends to
mothers receiving dinners during the week. The usual
grant of milk is one pint daily, but this is increased on
special recommendation and never refused. Eggs in
addition to the milk are sometimes granted to those
receiving a grant of milk.
(ii) Children up to the age of 5 years are given grants of milk
or dinners and milk.
(iii) The majority of the grants are given free and special
consideration is given to every applicant when applying
the scale (approved by the Ministry of Health) in order
that no hardship will result. The previous difficulties of
the family such as arrears of rent, illness in family, debts
and periods of unemployment, are taken into account
and free grants issued for a period, notwithstanding that
the families' income at the time of application may be
outside the scale.
(iv) Designated Pasteurised Milk is not supplied, but an order
is sent to the family's usual dairyman who supplies
ordinary milk. In London the majority of milk has been
heat treated, although it is not designated pasteurised
milk. The milk supplied is tested from time to time for
cleanliness, and last year 43 samples were taken for
bacteriological examination; 74 per cent. of the milk
could be classified as of good standard. Retailers whose
samples are found to be of a low standard are removed
from the list of suppliers.
(v) The Borough Council provide meals as previously stated.
(vi) Cod Liver Oil preparations are supplied (either free or for
payment at cost price) at the Municipal Centres on the
recommendation of the Medical Officer to all babies and
children in attendance. "Adexolin" is given to those
unable to take the oil preparations. The expectant mothers