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cost, salvarsan or its substitutes. The Council makes direct payments to
hospitals for salvarsan or its substitutes supplied to medical practitioners in
London. 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 percent,
by the Council and the participating authorities according to the user of the
facilities available. Details of cases treated in 1927 and preceding years are
given in Chapter I, pp. 28 and 29.
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. The British Social Hygiene Council exercises on behalf of the Council
certain of its powers relating to propaganda work. The Council undertakes publicity
work which can most usefullv 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. The after-care of girls suffering from
venereal disease is receiving special consideration.
The Council obtained powers in 1926 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.
Health*
propaganda.
Under these powers the Council proposes to arrange for the circulation from
time to time, as may be deemed desirable, amongst the medical officers of health
of the metropolitan boroughs and medical practitioners, etc., in London, of medical
information which it will be difficult for them to obtain in a comprehensive form
without considerable study and research, and for the issue to the press on special
Infant life
protection.
occasions of carefully considered statements as to any epidemic diseases.
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. At the end of 1927, 3,184 nurse-infants and the premises of 2,350 fostermothers
were subject to inspection. Power is given to remove to a place of safety
an infant in the charge of a foster-mother 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
partially or wholly premises which are so conducted as to render ordinary inspection
unnecessary. Particulars of action taken in recent years are as follows:—
Year.
Infants
removed from
foster-mothers.
Exemptions.
Deaths.
Infringements
discovered.
Cautions.
Prosecutions.
Convictions.
1921 20 3 42 1 302 285 26 26
1922 14 3 52 279 266 13 13
1923 6 3* 53 303 292 11 10
1924 7 4* 26 274 267 7 7
1925 3 1* 38 263 261 2 2
1926 4 1* 26 214 210 4 3
1927 4 — 3* 222 217 5 5
* Partial.
The Child Adoption Committee issued in April, 1926, their Third and Final
Report dealing with questions relating to the amendment of Part I of the Children
Act, 1908, and suggested various amendments which they considered to be