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infectious diseases come under the supervision of the Local Government
Board; the control of the industrial employment of pregnant women
comes under the Home Office; the midwives are supervised by the
Central Midwives Board under the Privy Council; the domiciliary
medical treatment of working women and the maternity benefit are
under the National Insurance Commission; the instruction and training
of women and girls in the care and management of infancy, in home
nursing, and in hygiene, comes under the Board of Education."
The suggestion has frequently been made that Government Departments
concerned with questions of health and hygiene should be
consolidated, and the above description provides an additional argument
in its favour.
Tuberculosis.—The decrease in the frequency of this disease which
has taken place in the last twenty years in Westminster was continued
in 1914 Details of the work carried out are submitted. The scheme,
which was prepared in 1913 in connection with local hospitals for the
provision of a tuberculosis dispensary, has been the subject of much
discussion during the year, and has now been formally presented to the
Local Government Board for their sanction.
The general work of the Public Health Department has been continued
throughout the year.
Staff.—Four members of the disinfecting staff (Bridger, Powell, West
and Atkins) and the mortuary assistant (Watling) were called up for
service in the army, and Miss Dick, inspector of workshops, &c., acted for
a month a,s an hospital orderly in Antwerp up to the time of its fall.
During the year the Council extended the maximum of the salary
attached to the position of female sanitary inspector from £160 to £175
per annum.
Miss A. E. Smith, one of the sanitary inspectors, was appointed one
of H.M. Inspectors of Factories and left the Council's service on the
30th September. She had been chiefly occupied in tuberculosis work,
visiting outworkers' premises, houses let in lodgings, and children
suffering from measles, whooping cough, &c. Pending the sanction of
the Council's scheme for a tuberculosis dispensary the position has been
filled by a temporary appointment.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor, my Lords, Lady and Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
FRANCIS J. ALLAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
March, 1915.