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74
from inspection in cases where the circumstances appear to warrant such a course
No request for exemption was received during the year.
All the homes in which foster children are kept are visited with a view to ascertaining
whether the sanitary condition of the premises is satisfactory. During
1925, 947 reports, as compared with 992 during 1924, were made. The premises
were found to be satisfactory in 498 cases as compared with 617 the previous year.
Sanitary defects were discovered in 242 homes as compared with 157 the previous
year, while overcrowding was reported in 141 homes as compared with 128 in 1924.
Overcrowding and sanitary defects were found in 16 homes as compared with 37
the previous year. In 50 cases no action could be taken owing to the removal of
the infant prior to the visit of the inspector. In any case of serious sanitary defect
the attention of the borough council was drawn to the defect. A rearrangement
of the accommodation has in some cases enabled an improvement to be effected,
but in others this has been impossible and the foster mothers have in such cases
been urged either to obtain more suitable accommodation or to return the infant
to its parent. As will be obvious, the lack of suitable housing accommodation has
added to the difficulty of dealing with such cases.
The help of the local infant welfare centre is sought in the case of the illness
of an infant, and where a foster mother has charge of a weak or ailing infant she is
urged to take the infant to the centre and follow the medical advice given there.
The visitors are instructed to watch such cases with a view to seeing that the
treatment is carried out. Whenever a visitor is doubtful as to the progress of an
infant the matter is reported with a view to an inspection being made by one of the
Council's medical officers. This practice has worked very satisfactorily and has
been of great assistance to the visitors.
A nurse infant ceases to be under this part of the Act at the age of seven years,
but as the child usually attends school from the age of 5 years it has from that age
the additional advantage of supervision by the School medical service.
The number of deaths of nurse infants during 1925 was 38, as compared with
26 last year, while inquests were held in 16 cases, as compared with 8 in 1924. The
verdict inl4 cases was death from natural causes, and in the two others accidental
death.
In last vear's report reference was again made to the question of adoption of
infants. During that year three bills dealing with this matter were introduced in
Parliament. A committee was also appointed by the Home Secretary to examine
the problem of child adoption from the point of view of possible legislation, and at
the request of that committee evidence was submitted on behalf of the Council.
During 1925 the Committee issued reports of its findings and a draft Bill to give
effect to them.
Mental Deficiency Act. 1913.

Occupation
centres.
In addition to the foregoing, certain cases were examined while still of school
age and are recorded on a later page.
The Occupation Centres opened in the year 1923 were continued throughout
the year. The majority of the Centres Vere visited by the Council's certifying
officers, who found that the improvement in the children's behaviour, appearance,