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115
Physically
defective
children.
is regarded as an essential part of the tuberculosis dispensary service. At the end
of 1923, proposals submitted by eighteen borough councils had been approved.
Arising out of reports by Major R. C. Elmslie on the schools for physically
defective children and by Sir Henry Gauvain on surgical cases of tuberculosis sent
by the Council to various institutions, the Council considered the general question
of the treatment and care of physically defective children.* The powers of public
authorities in connection with the health and education services were considered,
as well as the developments and action taken in the matters under review as regards
tuberculous diseases and non-tuberculous diseases and conditions. The Minister
of Health was approached with a view to determining the best steps to be taken
to secure early and efficient diagnosis and treatment of poliomyelitis, and of
securing increased facilities for treatment of the resulting infantile paralysis.
Venereal
disease.
Details are given in the Annual Report for 1921 (vol. III., p. 63) of the joint
scheme by the Council and authorities near London for the diagnosis and treatment
of venereal diseases. Arrangements have been made for free treatment and diagnosis
for in-patients and out-patients at 29 hospitals and for the reception of patients
for treatment at seven hostels. Special provision has been made for the treatment
of pregnant women and very young children. Practitioners secure, at the cost of
the Council, scientific reports on materials from patients suspected to be suffering
from venereal disease, and approved practitioners may obtain, free of cost, salvarsan
or its substitutes. The cost of diagnosis and treatment at hospitals and hostels
is divided between the Council and the participating authorities according to the
user of the facilities available. The Council makes direct payments to hospitals
for salvarsan or its substitutes supplied to medical practitioners in London. Details
of cases treated in this and preceding years are given above (see pp. 42-3).
Publicity
arrangements.
The Council's scheme provides in general terms for lectures and addresses to
selected audiences, and for the publication and dissemination of information.
Since 20th March, 1917, a voluntary association—the National Council for Combating
Venereal Diseases—has been permitted for limited periods to exercise on behalf of
the Council certain of its powers relating to publicity and propaganda work; the
purposes for which the permission was to be operative for the year ending 31st March,
1924, were determined by the Council on 27th March, 1923. Since 1st April, 1922
the Council has itself undertaken certain publicity work which could most usefully
be directed through official channels.
Rescue and
preventive
work.
Arising out of proposals of the National Council of Social Service, a central
council representing public authorities and voluntary agencies concerned in rescue
and preventive work in London has been formed for the co-ordination of rescue
and preventive work among women and girls in London. The Council has four
representatives on the Central Council.
Infant life
protection.
Part I. of the Children Act, 1908, provides that a person who undertakes for
hire or reward the nursing and maintenance of an infant under the age of seven years
apart from its parents shall, within 48 hours, give notice of such reception to the local
authority (in London the Council), and empowers such local authority to fix the
number of infants which may be kept in any dwelling. If an infant dies the
foster-mother must notify the coroner within 24 hours, and the Council within
48 hours. During 1923,2,392 foster-mothers and 2,926 nurse-infants were notified.
Power is given to remove to a place of safety an infant in the charge of a fostermother
who is unfit to have the care of it owing to negligence, ignorance,
inebriety, immorality, criminal conduct or other similar cause.
Similar action may be taken where the premises are overcrowded, dangerous or
insanitary, or if the infant is being kept by a person or in any premises in contravention
of the Act. The Act also empowers a local authority to exempt either
* Physically Defective Children. Joint report made to the Council by the Education.
Committee and the Public Health Committee, December, 1923. No. 2274. Price 6d.