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home was formerly in the City, and cases from Westminster are eligible
for admission. The two other homes in the City which exist for a similar
purpose were mentioned in previous reports.
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
does 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, 4,524 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 £147 7s. 11d. This is considerably
greater than that spent last year and reflects the increasing degree of
unemployment prevailing. Cases in receipt of Public Assistance are not
eligible for the Council's extra nourishment Scheme.
Birth Control.— Memo. 153/M. & C.W. No action by the City Council
was called for on this memorandum. The question of Birth Control
advice by officers of local authorities is still acutely controversial. At
the Council's M. & C.W. centres any woman desiring advice on birth
control is referred to one of the voluntary birth control clinics in London.
Insulin Treatment.—The City Council, by virtue of its powers under
Section 77 of the Public Health (London) Act, and after receiving the
approval of the Ministry of Health, paid for insulin treatment in the case
of a necessitous woman out-patient at St. Thomas Hospital. The cost
was at the rate of 5s. per week, and on 31st December, £6 1s. had been
expended. It is satisfactory to note that the freedom from financial
anxiety has been of great benefit to the patient, who has made excellent
progress.
Health Education.— "Better Health," the monthly magazine of the
Central Council of Health Education, published and distributed in the
City by the Medical Officer of Health, continued to be an excellent source
of information on health matters and was enjoying an increasing circulation.
Most unfortunately, its issue in Westminster ceased in October
because the printers could not obtain in Westminster a sufficient flow
of local advertisements to justify the continuation of 2,000 free copies
per month. The magazine is still widely circulated in other parts of
the County.