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The Act provides for the removal of an infant to a place of safety—i.e., a workhouse—in cases
where either the foster mother is by reason of negligence, ignorance, inebriety, immorality, criminal
conduct, or other similar cause, unfit to have charge of it, or the premises are overcrowded, dangerous, or
insanitary, or if the infant is being kept by any person or in any premises in contravention of the
provisions of the Act. During the year there have been 48 such removals. The Act also permits the
local authority to exempt either partially or wholly such premises as in their opinion are so conducted
as to make regular inspection unnecessary. During the year partial exemption, limited to one or two
visits a year, has been granted in five cases.
Particular attention is paid to the sanitary condition of the homes in which the infants are
kept. Every new notification is reported upon from a sanitary standpoint, apart from the condition
of the infant or the suitability of the foster mother; similar action is taken if a foster mother removes
or if in the opinion of the visitor the condition of the premises is likely to prove harmful to the infant.
During the year 1,441 such reports were made. In 848 cases the conditions were satisfactory, in 299
sanitary defects were found, in 238 overcrowding and in 56 both overcrowding and sanitary
defects were discovered. In 85 cases the infant had been removed before the visit could be paid. The
attention of the sanitary authorities has been drawn to cases in which serious sanitary defects existed.
In instances of overcrowding it was found possible in many cases to re-arrange the accommodation
so as to remedy this, but in others it was necessary for the foster mother to be required either to obtain
other and more suitable premises or to give up the infant. The shortage of labour has, of course,
contributed largely to the difficulty in securing that the necessary work of renovation is carried out.
Careful supervision is maintained over the health of the infants, and foster parents are encouraged
to take ailing infants to the local Infant Welfare Centre. If the case is sufficiently serious the hospital
is advised, and in all cases the visitor follows up to see that the treatment is carried out. In certain
cases where the infant does not appear to be progressing one of the Council's medical inspectors pays
a special visit and submits a report upon the case. This practice has been attended with very useful
results. Nurse infants on reaching the age of 5 years usually become school children, and in cases where
treatment is necessary use is made of the school medical treatment scheme.
During the year there were 103 deaths, in 10 of which inquests were held, the verdicts in each
case being Death fron Natural Causes.
Infringements of the law were discovered in 446 cases, in 420 of which Written cautions were
sent. In 25 cases legal proceedings were taken and convictions obtained, and one case was adjourned
sine die on a point of law.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Venereal Disease.
The scheme for London and the Home Counties for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal
disease which came into force on 1st January, 1917, Was continued throughout the year 1918. Certain
districts not conveniently served by the existing facilities for treatment were provided for by the
inclusion in the scheme of three additional hospitals. The number of clinics—22 in 1917—established
at London general hospitals was thus increased to 25. Provision was also made at three hostels for
women who, whilst undergoing treatment at the hospitals, continued in employment, and whose lodgings
did not permit of the requisite privacy.
During the year the number of persons who made use of the facilities was 16,372, viz., 10,069
males and 6,303 females, and their attendances totalled 169,485. The number of "in-patient" days
of treatment given was 66,095 and 6,649 persons were treated with salvarsan substitutes. Of those
dealt with for the first time 12,538 were London patients of whom 5,167 were suffering from syphilis,
96 from soft chancre, 5,222 from gonorrhoea, and 2,053 not suffering from venereal disease.
Pathological examinations of material from patients attending the clinics totalled 25,973 and
6,380 examinations for medical practitioners were made in the laboratories. The total examinations
included 21,360 Wassermann tests. Since the inception of the scheme, 178 medical practitioners have
submitted evidence of their experience in the administration of arseno-benzol preparations in accordance
with the regulations of the Local Government Board and have been placed on the Council's approved
list, entitling them to supplies of these drugs free of cost.
In considering the arrangements for the year 1919, the need for special facilities for treatment
for infected pregnant women was considered and the authorities of the large lying-in hospitals were
approached on the subject, with the result that it is probable that at least one of these institutions
will participate in the Scheme during the ensuing year.
To assist in bringing these facilities for treatment to the notice of the public, the Council entered
into arrangements with the National Council for Combating Venereal Disease, who undertook in return
for financial assistance the organising of lectures and meetings in the several metropolitan boroughs,
the distribution of free literature, and the issuing of advertisements in the daily press calling attention
to the dangers of infection, the desirability of early treatment and the means for obtaining the same.
Posters giving the location, days and times of attendance at the clinics, were also displayed in public
conveniences and, where the necessary permission could be obtained, in large business premises.
Common Lodging Houses.
The administration of the Common Lodging Houses Acts devolved upon the Council in 1894.
By the passing of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1902, the Council obtained powers
to licence common lodging houses annually. New by-laws for t'no regulation of such houses came into
force on the 1st October, 1903.