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and more particularly the operation of the Insurance Act, will make it absolutely necessary to
adopt a more active policy. For such work I consider the Women Inspectors are more suited,
but at present their time is taken up mainly with sickness among children, and they have little
opportunity for any other work, such as workshop inspection and the visiting of cases of
consumption or of new-born children.
As regards " birth visiting," we have fortunately had the assistance of the Paddington
Health Society (now the School for Mothers), but that Association has intimated its inability to
visit as much as in the past. The Paddington and Kensington Dispensary for the Prevention of
Consumption has taken charge of most of the work in connection with consumption which in other
circumstances would have fallen to the Women Inspectors. The time has come when the
Council will have to consider the question of making some addition to the staff of Women Inspectors,
partly with a view to carrying out more thoroughly work already imposed on them, and partly to
meet the exigencies which are to be expected to arise from the operation of the Insurance Act.
The preservation of the health of the children is of such vast importance in preventive medicine
that I sincerely hope it will not be necessary either to give up any of the work now done or
to neglect the call for further work in the direction indicated.
All members of the staff of the Department have discharged their duties in a most efficient
manner during the year. At times the work which the Women Inspectors have been called on to
undertake has been more than those officers ought to be required to do. They have made
exceptional efforts to meet the call. The work of the Clerical Staff is increasing steadily and
promises to do so at a more rapid rate in the future.
In conclusion I desire to convey my sincere thanks to the Chairman and Members of the
Public Health Committee for their sympathetic support in my efforts to carry out the duties
entrusted to me.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your most obedient servant,
m.a., m.b., d.p.h., f.s.s.,
Medical Officer of Health
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Paddington, W.,
6th fuly, 1912.