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62
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
104 infants were admitted in 1925, 56 from addresses in the
Borough and 48 from outside the Borough. Most of the cases
were infants suffering from Marasmus, Enteritis, Pneumonia,
Bronchitis and allied diseases.
The Borough Council pay an annual grant of £500 to this
Hospital under their maternity and child welfare scheme.
There is one other large institution in the Borough for the
accommodation of 60 children up to the age of five years.
There are five institutions or hostels in the Borough for the
reception of expectant unmarried mothers, all in connection with
rescue work. In two of them the mothers are admitted some
months previous to the confinement, while in three they are
admitted towards the end of pregnancy. In most of these homes
the mothers are expected to remain some months after confinement.
Arrangements have been made for a medical man to attend
at each hostel when necessary, and some of the infants attend
the most convenient Infant Welfare Centre.
Convalescent Homes.
During the year 26 mothers were sent to Convalescent Homes,
24 of them taking their infants with them. Ten other children
were also sent. Both mothers and children derived much benefit
from the change of air.
Supply of Milk.
The Council decided on the 11th April, 1918, to supply, under
the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, milk free of cost to necessitous
expectant and nursing mothers, and to children under
five years of age. This scheme came into force on the 1st May,
1918, and is now being operated in accordance with the provisions
laid down by the Ministry of Health in Circular 185, dated March,
1921.
During the year 712 families were supplied with milk under
the above scheme :—160 in Clapham, 51 in Putney, 136 in Balham,
79 in Streatham, 86 in Tooting, 37 in Southfield, 79 in Fair-