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instances the result could not be ascertained owing to the removal of the patients.
57 cases received in-patient hospital treatment at St. Margaret's Hospital.
In past years classes have been arranged for the instruction of midwives, and
were well attended. In 1924, 1925 and 1926, classes both for general midwifery
subjects and also ante-natal work were held.
The Central Midwives Board has made new Rules which came into operation
on the 1st January, 1927. The variations and additions deal with the standard
of efficiency of candidates for examination as midwives, and other matters designed
to improve their midwifery.
Several outbreaks of Pemphigus Neonatorum nave occurred in the practice
of London midwives during the year, the total number of cases being 140. The outbreaks
have caused considerable anxiety as the source of infection in the various
cases is often obscure. Generally, however, the disease has been of a mild
form.
pemphigus
neonatorum.
This Act which provides for the amendment of the Midwives Acts 1902 and
1918 in certain particulars and for the registration and inspection of maternity homes,
came into force on the 4th August, 1926. Part I. of the Act deals with the amendment
of the Midwives Acts.
Midwives
and
Maternity
Homes Act.
1926.
the Second Part of the Act has reference to the registration and inspection
of maternity homes. As the registration of such homes is regulated by the London
County Council (General Powers) Act 192, so far as London is concerned, the 1926
Act does not apply inasmuch as Section 14 (3) provides that "nothing in this
Act shall affect the provisions of any local Act.”
The by-laws made under section 18 of the L.C.C. (General rowers) Act, 19-1,
are being carried out by the keepers of lying-in homes, and are of assistance to
the Council in dealing with any complaint that may be made with regard to the
home.
Lying-in
homes.
The powers of the Council under the Children Act, 1908 (Part 1), with regard
to infant life protection are fully indicated in the Annual Report for 1921. The
work of inspection is carried out by 14 visitors and two male inspectors. Nurse
infants who are being kept under specified unsatisfactory conditions, may under
powers given by the Act be removed to a place of safety—i.e., in London to Poor Law
institutions. During 1926, 4 nurse infants were so removed, as compared with 3 in
the previous year. The Act permits the Council to grant total or partial exemption
from inspection in cases where the circumstances appear to warrant such a course.
One request for exemption was received during the year and partial exemption was
granted.
Children
Act, 1908.
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
1926, 870 reports, as compared with 947 during 1925, were made. The premises
were found to be satisfactory in 498 cases the same number as the previous year.
Sanitary defects were discovered in 165 homes as compared with 242 the previous
year, while overcrowding was reported in 111 homes as compared with 141 in 1925.
Overcrowding and sanitary defects were found in 22 homes as compared with 16
the previous year. In 74 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