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86
The methods used to deal with the disease have been detailed in a previous
report; the most important perhaps is that during the third quarter of the year
extra visits are paid to those homes in which epidemic diarrhoea is more likely to
occur.
Nursing Arrangements.
Nursing arrangements have been made with the Metropolitan Nursing
Association, No. 23. Bloomsbury Square, for the nursing, when required, of
necessitous cases of measles, whooping cough, ophthalmia neonatorum, epidemic
diarrhoea, pneumonia, encephalitis lethargica and tuberculosis.
Their services were used as follows: —
Deficient Lactation 14 Cases 191 Visits.
Whooping Cough 1 Case 45 ,,
Measles 10 Cases 93 ,,
Ophthalmia Neonatorum 2 ,, 40 ,,
Pneumonia 14 „ 219 ,,
Influenza 8 ,, 109 ,,
Tuberculosis 4 ,, 123 ,,
Total 53 Cases 820 Visits.
Pensions for Mothers and Widows.
This subject has come to the fore again in this Country of late; it might be
thought desirable that local authorities should begin to consider how best the work
when it is initiated could be administered. It is difficult to avoid thinking that
the administration would be best carried out by local Maternity and Child Welfare
Committees.
Sympathetic, efficient and experienced administration is essential for
obtaining the maximum result, and this can only be effected if the administration
is carried out by those who have an intimate knowledge of the home
conditions of mothers and widows and have been brought into touch with them in
a manner which naturally leads to mutual sympathy and confidence.
The organisation necessary for such efficient administration already exists in
ihe form of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committees of local authorities and
the natural relationship of the new work for mothers and widows to that which
they are already carrying out postulates that the administration of the new work
should be added to their present duties.
Moreover, if the State pays Mothers' Pensions it would have a right to see
that the mothering were good. This could readily be done by Health Visitors
without prying or inquisitorial methods, in the course of their ordinary duties. In
the main also it would be more economical for the work to be carried out by
existing organisations. There is everything to be said in favour of local as
opposed to central administration in view of local authorities' more intimate
knowledge of local and personal conditions and greater facilities for supervision.
Health Week and Baby Week.
Following the precedents of recent years the celebration of these weeks was,
in the main, combined and observed from the 5th to the 11th of October, 1924.
The efforts made during the week were as follows: —