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were 2,146 homes under inspection, the number of nurse infants therein being
3.052.
Nurse infants who are kept under unsatisfactory conditions may, if such conditions
fall within the purview of section 5 of the Act, be removed to a place of safety. In
London poor law institutions are used for this purpose. During 1928 it was
necessary to remove 5 nurse infants as against 4 in 1927. The Act permits local
authorities to grant total or partial exemption from inspection in cases where circumstances
appear to warrant such a course, but no application for exemption was made
during 1928.
From time to time the homes where nurse-infants are kept are visited in order
to ascertain whether the sanitary condition, etc., of the premises is satisfactory.
804 reports were made during 1928 as compared with 841 in 1927. In 491 cases the
premises were found to be satisfactory as compared with 553 in 1927. In 113 homes
sanitary defects were discovered as compared with 107 in 1927, while overcrowding
was found in 76 homes as compared with 85 in 1927. Overcrowding and sanitary
defects were found in 15 homes as compared with 10 in 1927. In 109 cases no action
could be taken under the provisions of this Act owing to the removal of the nurseinfant
prior to the visit of the inspector. 266 special inquiries were also made with
regard to the condition of the premises and the necessary action taken in the matter.
In the event of a serious sanitary defect being reported the attention of the local
borough council is drawn thereto, and in some cases it has been found possible by
rearrangement of the accommodation to secure improvement. In others it has
not been possible and the foster-parents have been urged either to return the child
in their charge to the parent or to obtain other and more suitable accommodation.
Difficulty in dealing with cases of this character is accentuated by the lack of suitable
house accommodation.
Foster-mothers are advised to attend local infant welfare centres with the
children in their charge. In the event of a nurse-infant being weak or ailing the
visitor carefully watches the case and sees that the treatment advised is duly carried
out. If doubt exists in the visitor's mind with regard to the progress of the nurseinfant
the matter is submitted to one of the Council's medical officers, who attends
and examines the child. This practice has been carried out for some years now and
is of assistance to the visitors and gives satisfaction to both parties. At the age of
seven years a child ceases to be a nurse-infant and is no longer liable unde0r the Act,
but the Education Act applies to children of five years and upwards ; there is, therefore,
supervision by the school medical services available from that age. During
the year, 33 nurse-infants died as compared with 34 in 1927. In 7 cases inquests
were held as compared with 14 in the previous year ; a verdict of death from natural
causes was recorded in 4 cases as compared with 10 in the previous year, and in 2
cases accidental death as compared with 4. In 1 case an open verdict "cause
unknown" was returned. In none of the cases was blame attached to the foster-mother.
The Adoption of Children Act, 1926, came into force on the 1st January, 1927.
The Act provides for the legal adoption of infants (under the age of 21 years) who
have never been married, the parents relinquishing all rights and responsibility
which are thereupon assumed by the petitioners. The application may be dealt with
by the High Court, the County Court or a Court of Summary Jurisdiction (police
court). An interim order may be made by any of these Courts fixing a probationary
period during which the applicant may have the custody of the child, or may give a
full adoption order. By Section 8 (3) of the Act the Court upon the hearing of the
application may appoint some public body to act as guardian ad litem, with the duty
of safeguarding the interests of the infant before the Court, and where the body so
appointed is the local authority may authorise the authority to incur any necessary
expenditure
Adoption of
Children
Act, 1926.