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33
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
Towards the end of the year the Council engaged Dr. E. Dorothy Fenwick to enquire,
when necessary, into maternal deaths. One case was referred to her and reported on under
this arrangement.
ADMINISTRATION.
GENERAL.
Staff of the Department.—Miss F. M. Nicolas, Sanitary Inspector, retired from the Council's
service on October 13th. Miss I. L. Buckledee was engaged to fill the vacant position
pending the appointment of a permanent Officer, which did not take place until after the close
of the year.
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—Visits of enquiry after notification of infectious disease
numbered 8,431. This figure excludes visits in connection with tuberculosis, which are recorded
elsewhere in this report.
The removals to hospitals and other institutions for various diseases other than tuberculosis
numbered 1,551.
In connection with the arrangement between the Council and the Paddington and St.
Marylebone District Nursing Association, 346 patients (comprising 228 cases of measles, 96 of
pneumonia, 13 of whooping-cough, and 9 of ophthalmia neonatorum) were visited in their homes
by the nurses of the Association. The visits paid to such patients numbered 3,484.
Disinfection.—The rooms disinfected after infectious disease numbered 2,023, including
175 rooms disinfected after tuberculosis.
The weight of bedding, etc., removed for disinfection at the Wood Lane Disinfecting
Station, under the agreement with the Kensington Borough Council, amounted to 30 tons.
Two hundred and eighty library books were disinfected.
Schools.—A total of 2,850 notices relating to cases of infectious disease were despatched
to the Head Teachers of the various schools attended by patients or their " contacts," 1,879
of such notices referring to cases of measles, whooping-cough and chickenpox, and the remainder
to cases of diphtheria, scarlet fever and other notifiable diseases. In addition 439 reports were
sent to the Medical Officers of Health of other boroughs in connection with cases attending
outlying schools.
Bacteriological Work.—The Council have an arrangement with the Lister Institute of
Preventive Medicine, Chelsea Bridge Road, S.W.1, for the bacteriological examination, at the
expense of the Council, of specimens sent by medical practitioners of Paddington patients
suspected to be suffering from diphtheria or typhoid fever.
All specimens are collected at the Town Hall and transmitted to the Lister Institute by
special messenger the same evening. The results are generally available the next morning,
and are telephoned to the medical practitioner concerned.
Examinations of sputa from patients suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis of the
lungs are undertaken by the Paddington Tuberculosis Dispensary, 20, Talbot Road.

House Drainage.—During the year 95 existing drains were tested and found water-tight,
124 defective drains were reconstructed and 6 made sound by special process.
Reconstruction Plans.—Three hundred and ten (310) were submitted for drainage works
in existing buildings. In connection therewith 703 letters were despatched.
One summons was issued for failure to supply plans. The plans having been deposited
before the hearing of the case, the summons was withdrawn on payment of one guinea costs.