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 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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The extent of the distribution of milk in 1925 is shown in the following figures
| Pints of Milk Granted Free. | Pints of Milk Granted Half-price. | Cost to Council. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925. | £ | s. | d. | ||
| January | 7762 | 856 | 122 | 7 | 1 |
| February | 7455 | 868 | 115 | 1 | 1½ |
| March | 7580 | 1128 | 118 | 15 | 4 |
| April | 6588 | 1102 | 89 | 4 | 9 |
| May | 6121 | 788 | 81 | 8 | 9 |
| June | 5283 | 706 | 70 | 8 | 6 |
| July | 5226 | 720 | 69 | 16 | 6 |
| August | 4754 | 710 | 63 | 17 | 3 |
| September | 4736 | 774 | 64 | 0 | 9 |
| October | 6040 | 904 | 94 | 13 | 6 |
| November | 6438 | 883 | 100 | 12 | 2½ |
| December | 7536 | 939 | 117 | 3 | 10 |
| Total | 75519 | 10378 | 1107 | 9 | 7 |
At the end of 1924 there were 191 families in receipt of milk through the Council's
scheme. 314 new families were added to the list of recipients during 1925, and at the end
of 1925 there were 178 families in receipt of milk, etc.
The scale in use was based on weekly income, as follows:—
| Number in Family. | After deduction of rent. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free. | Half Cost. | |||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | |
| 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| 5 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
Families in receipt of less income than that indicated in the table would be entitled to
receive milk. The working of the scheme has been fully indicated in previous annual reports.
If there was any doubt as to the circumstances of a family, the case was investigated by
Mr. H. G. West, who acted as Milk Inquiry Officer until October 24th, 1925, on which date
he was appointed Temporary Sanitary Inspector. Since the date mentioned, cases have been
investigated by the Women Sanitary Inspectors and Health Visitors.
Dinners for Necessitous Expectant or Nursing Mothers.—This work is organised
by a voluntary committee, to the funds of which the Borough Council make an annual
contribution of £50. The dinners are provided at a restaurant in Prince of Wales Crescent,
Kentish Town, a special room being provided for this purpose. The mothers are recommended
by the staff of the various Welfare Centres. In September a letter was received from the
Chairman of the Committee in charge of this work, stating that, as the number of nursing and