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864 ; of intention to practise for specific periods less than a year, 23 ; and of having
acted in specific cases, 18. There were 360 cases of puerperal fever and 753 of
ophthalmia neonatorum. Ten inquests were held on women, and 83 on children.
Five prima facie cases of negligence or misconduct were reported to the Central
Midwives Board. In one of these the Board was of opinion that the midwife had
acted as a maternity nurse and not as a midwife ; in one case the Board found that
the charges were proved and the midwife was cautioned as to a strict and prompt
observance of the rules of the Board ; in one case the Board removed the name of
the midwife from the roll; in one case the Board postponed sentence and asked for
periodical reports on the midwife's conduct and methods of practice ; and in the
remaining case the charge was admitted but the Board took no action thereon.
Action was taken against an uncertified woman for using the title " fully
qualified midwife." An undertaking to discontinue the use of this description was
given on her behalf and she was fined £1 and costs. She failed however to fulfil the
undertaking and upon subsequent conviction was fined £5 and costs.
Use of nitric
acid.
Two cases occurred in which strong nitric acid had been put into the eyes of
newly born infants in mistake for a weak solution of nitrate of silver, resulting in one
case in total blindness of one eye and in the other in very grave impairment of sight.
The Council decided on 20th November, 1923, to inform the Central Midwives Board
that, in its opinion, the use of nitric acid by practising midwives should be prohibited.
The prohibition of this acid would not prejudicially affect the position of midwives
as the purpose which it serves could be attained by other and equally simple means.
Houses
divided into
separate
tenements.
Early in 1920 model by-laws under section 26 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc.,
Act, 1919, with regard to houses divided into separate tenements were issued by the
Minister of Health, and on 27th July, 1920, the Council made by-laws based on the
model by-laws, and applied for confirmation of the same. In view of the suggestions
of the Minister of Health and of representations made by various interested parties,
the by-laws were considerably revised, but in the early part of 1923 it was not found
practicable to settle the by-laws without knowledge of the position which would
arise on the expiration of the Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions)
Act, 1920. The Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act, 1923, prolonged,
with certain exceptions, the duration of the Act of 1920 until 24th June, 1925.
Moreover, under section 14 of the Housing, etc., Act, 1923, by-laws made by the
Council in pursuance of section 26 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1919,
may provide that the by-laws shall, either generally or as respects any particular
metropolitan borough or any part thereof, have effect subject to such modifications,
limitations or exceptions as may be specified in the by-laws.
The section provides, also, that as soon as any by-laws made by the Council
come into force, all by-laws made by metropolitan borough councils under section 94
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, shall cease to have effect, but that a borough
council shall have power, after the Council has made by-laws, to make by-laws
under the said section 94 with respect to any houses or parts of houses in its area
let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family to which the by-laws
made by the Council do not apply.
The section extends the purposes for which by-laws may be made by the Council
in order to include the taking of precautions in the case of any infectious disease.
Revised by-laws were accordingly prepared on the basis of the powers conferred by
the above-mentioned Acts, but on 18th December, 1923, the Council decided, in
view of objections raised, to give further consideration to the text of the by-laws.
Census of
homeless
persons.
Censuses were taken by the medical officer, in continuation of those in previous
years, of homeless persons in order to ascertain the use made of common lodginghouses,
and the provision existing for the accommodation of persons of the poorest
class. The censuses were taken on a winter night, and the total number of homeless
persons found in the streets, on staircases and under arches were : February, 1915,