London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Pancras 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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69
Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1919.
During 1920 the Council continued to make grants of milk either free or at half-price
for the use of expectant or nursing mothers or children under five years of age. At the
beginning of the year all applications were dealt with by the Medical Officer of Health, who
required the tilling up of a schedule of particulars in each case.
He was guided by the following scale of income approved by the Council in Ja .uary, families in receipt of an income greater than that indicated in the scale being as a rule ineligible for grants of milk:—
| s. | d. | |||
| One parent. | 1 | 15 | 0 | per week. |
| Two parents | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| „ and one child | 2 | 15 | 0 | |
| „ „ two children | 3 | 10 | 0 | |
| „ „ three „ | 4 | 5 | 0 |
and 10s. a week extra tor each additional child.
In most cases milk was granted free at the rate of one pint for one child under 5 or an
expectant mother, and 1^ pints for two such persons in a family, and in some cases 2 pints
for 3 in a family.
The cost of the scheme increased greatly month by month, and in May it was decided
that the milk should be granted as a rule at half-price, and free only Jin special cases of great
necessity.
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Further consideration was given to the matter in June, and a Special Sub-Committee
was set up to meet weekly and consider and decide upon all applications for milk under the
Council's scheme. The Sub-Committee met for the first time on July 30th, 1920. It was
also decided that the grant of milk should be restricted to expectant mothers in the last three
months of pregnancy, and children under three years of age. Further arrangements were also
made for the making of enquiries where the accuracy of the information given on the application
form was doubted. Moreover, a new scale of income win set up. It was, however, to
be used as a guide only, the amount and price of milk to be granted being left to the
discretion of the Sub-Committee. '
The new scale was as follows:—
| s. | d. | |||
| One parent | 1 | 15 | 0 | per week. |
| Two parents | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Two parents and one child | 2 | 10 | 0 | |
| „ „ two children. | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| „ „ three | 3 | 10 | 0 | |
| „ „ four | 3 | 15 | 0 | „ |
| „ „ five | 4 | 0 | 0 | „ |
Larger families to be given special consideration.
All the above-mentioned rates were made subject to the right of the Sub-Committ e to
vary them in cases in which they considered it advisable.
One of the Health Visitors, Miss Camman, was designated to make the necessary
enquiries into applications for milk, and Mr. L. Iliggins, temporary clerk, to give his whole
time to the clerical work connected with the milk scheme. It has been found necessary for
part of the time of another clerk to be devoted to the same work. In 1921 Mr. F. G. Crick,
clerk in the department, who, on account of his health, needed out-door employment, was
appointed to make the necessary enquiries into the circumstances of applicants for milk, in
place of the health visiting staff.