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Poliomyelitis
The Annual Report for 1924 (Vol. III., p. 126) contains particulars of steps
taken to secure early and efficient diagnosis and treatment of poliomyelitis, and
increased facilities for treatment of the resulting infantile paralysis. Arrangements
have been made for persons suffering from the disease in its later stages to be referred
through the Council's organisation to the Metropolitan Asylums Board, for treatment
at the Board's Orthopaedic Hospital at Carshalton. The Invalid Children's Aid
Association has agreed to assess and collect contributions from parents on the
basis of the arrangements which apply in the case of contributions towards the cost
of treatment of children for tuberculosis, and these contributions, less a small
deduction for expenses, are handed over to the Board.
Venereal
disease.
Details are given in the Annual Report for 1921 (Vol. III., p. 63) of the scheme
for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases in the county. The scheme
provides for the participation of certain authorities near London in the facilities
afforded by selected hospitals for the purpose. The arrangements for 1925 provide
for free treatment and diagnosis for in-patients and out-patients at 28 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 for diagnosis purposes on
materials obtained 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 borne as to 75 per
cent. by the Ministry of Health and as to the remaining 25 per cent. by 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 1925 and
preceding years are given in Chapter I., pp. 69-71.
The Council's venereal diseases 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 (now the British Social Hygiene Council)—
has, subject to conditions, exercised on behalf of the Council certain of its powers
relating to propaganda work. The Council undertakes publicity work which can
most usefully be directed through official channels.
Rescue and
preventive
work.
A central council representing public authorities and voluntary agencies concerned
in rescue and preventive work in London undertakes the co-ordination of
rescue and preventive work among women and girls in London. The Council has
four representatives on the central council.
Health
propaganda.
The Council decided to apply to Parliament in the session of 1926 for authority
to enable it to undertake and contribute towards the cost of health propaganda
work and also to enable the metropolitan borough councils to undertake such work.
Child
adoption.
The departmental committee appointed by the Home Secretary to examine
the problem of child adoption from the point of view of possible legislation and to
report upon the main provisions which in their view should be included in any
Bill on the subject have issued two reports, but the questions in which the Council
is mainly interested and on which it submitted evidence to the departmental committee
are reserved for a later report. These questions relate to the amendment of
Part I. (Infant Life Protection) of the Children Act, 1908. (See Annual Report for
1920, Vol. III., p. 113).
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