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of a school Clinic or Health Centre at Deptford Green, and the
Council's Isolation Shelter was first used for the cleansing of verminous
children and the disinfection of their clothes.
Negotiations begun during 1912 resulted in the establishment
in 1913 of a Tuberculosis Dispensary with a Medical Officer and two
nurses in attendance and in the first Tuberculosis Report for that
year emphasis was laid on the need for an After-Care Committee.
At this time three Welfare Centres were in operation : one at Deptford
Green under the control of Miss McMillan, one at the Albany
Institute (which was also being used as a Babies' Residential Home),
and one at Conduit House. During this period cod-liver oil,
Parrish's food and ointments were being distributed at these Centres
at reduced cost.
It was during the following year, 1914, that the term ' Maternity
and Child Welfare ' was first used and this year saw the appointment
of the first full-time Health Visitor.
By 1915 an After-Care Committee for Tuberculosis patients had
been organised and it was about this time that the Council took over
a Voluntary Consultation Centre and arranged for the distribution of
dried milk, etc., at reduced prices.
Further centres and creches were opened in 1917 and by 1918
there were three Health Visitors on the permanent staff.
In 1919 Diarrhoea and Zymotic Enteritis became permanently
notifiable and arrangements were made under the Maternity and
Child Welfare scheme for dental treatment; other arrangements included
similar treatment for Tuberculosis patients at the Dispensary.
It was pointed out in the Medical Officer's Annual Report for 1919
that conversion of premises by the London Housing Board, acting
on behalf of the Council, had contravened Section 96 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, and in consequence the Council had become
owners of properties not complying with legal requirements in
regard to basement and underground rooms. It was also indicated
in this Report that the L.C.C. had added to the overcrowding problem
by demolishing a number of houses to make way for a new school.
The year 1920 heralded the formation of a Maternity and Child
Welfare Committee and an increase in staff to 7 Health Visitors and
8 Sanitary Inspectors. During this year a Minor Ailments Centre
was opened at the Borough Hall; the Ministry of Health's sanction
was obtained for the purchase of 105 Shooters Hill Road for
M. & C. W. activities and the Council acquired the lease of Conduit
House for similar purposes. This year also saw the first marked
decrease in infantile mortality. At this time, in addition to the
normal functions of the Health Clinics, the mothers' interests were