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Convalescent Homes.—There are many charitable agencies throughout
the City which are always ready to answer the call for convalescent
treatment for mothers and children. Among them may be mentioned
the Friends of the Poor and the St. Henry Fund. The Medical Officer
of Health is ex officio a trustee of the latter, the benefits of which are
available only to residents of the parish of St. Anne's, Soho.
Homes for Unmarried Mothers, etc.—The Council make an annual
grant of £100 to the Home of St. John the Baptist at Tulse Hill. This
home was formerly in the City, and cases from Westminster are eligible
for admission. There are two other homes in the City which exist for
a similar purpose.
Day Nursery.—There are two nurseries in which mothers who work
away from home may place their young children during working hours.
The homes are situated in the districts where the need for them is
greatest. The Council make an annual grant of £25 towards the expenses
of the nursery organised by the British Red Cross Society.
Supply of Milk.—Fresh and dried milk is supplied to certain cases
recommended by the medical officer of the maternity and child welfare
centre. Before the grants are made a standard of income laid down by
the Ministry must be proved. In some instances the weekly income
docs not justify an award of free milk, but those cases may come within
the scale for milk at half price. The applications are considered by a
meeting of the ladies of the Maternity and Child Welfare Sub-Committee,
which takes place once a month at each centre. Grants are made for
a period of one month and are reconsidered for continuation at each
meeting. Preparations of dried milk are sold at cost price in connection
with the centres, 2,122 pounds being disposed of during the year. The
amount expended by the Council for fresh milk as extra nourishment
for mothers and infants amounted to £94 2s. 9d.
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
The following legal provisions which deal with the administrative
control of food supplies were made during the year: (1) The Milk and
Dairies Order, 1926; (2) The Public Health (Imported Milk) Regulations,
1926; and the Preservatives in Food (Amendment) Order, 1926.
Our present knowledge concerning the importance of milk as a food
and our views as to the standards of cleanliness to be required in its
preparation, were clearly demonstrated at the National Milk Conference
held in London in November, at which your Medical Officer of Health had
the (honour of being a delegate. Among the many points of interest