View report page

32
certain number of admissions to hospitals and institutions from the casual wards
are due to sore feet.
It was decided that in the first instance a foot bath should be installed in the
ablution rooms at Hackney and Southwark casual wards.
The report of the Departmental Committee on the Relief of the Casual Poor
emphasised the importance of ensuring that the attention of the proper officer of
the authority is drawn to any casual who appears to be a feeble-minded person
liable to be dealt with under the Mental Deficiency Acts.
Accordingly it was thought desirable to supplement the monthly examination
carried out by the casual ward medical officer by a special investigation conducted
by medical officers of the public health department delegated for this purpose.
One of the casual wards (including the Hostel) was visited each month in rotation,
and suitable action was taken in any case coming under the Mental Deficiency Acts.
In addition, medical officers of the casual wards from time to time reported any
case in which they suspected that inmates were mentally defective, and arrangements
were made for a medical officer in the public health department to proceed
at once to the casual ward and examine the inmate.
The experience of two years showed that very few cases of mental defect
were to be found in the casual wards, and in these circumstances it was felt that no
useful purpose would be served by continuing the routine visits to the casual wards
for mental examinations.
The medical officers and superintendents of the wards are now well informed
as to the facilities which are available for ascertaining and dealing with persons
under the Mental Deficiency Acts, and they have been carefully instructed
in the indications of mental deficiency. It was therefore decided to rely upon
arrangements for special visits for the examination of individual casuals whom
medical officers suspect to be mentally defective.
In the cases of persons of unsound mind the normal procedure is followed,
i.e., the medical officer of the ward gives notice in writing to a relieving officer, who
takes any necessary steps to effect the removal of the patient.
In borderline cases of psychosis, where a further report on the mental condition
appears desirable, but where there are insufficient grounds for an Order
under the Lunacy Act, inmates are offered admission to the nearest hospital at which
there is a mental consultant in attendance.
During the year the visiting medical officer from the public health department
examined in detail 25 inmates following a cursory inspection of all the casuals in
the wards. Only one was found to be defective, and the inmate was conveyed to
a place of safety.
Three inmates were referred by ward medical officers for special examination.
One was found to be defective and was conveyed to a place of safety.
Adoption of Children Act, 1926.
During 1934 medical examinations were completed in respect of 44 children
for whose adoption applications had been made by private persons. In five of these
cases the children were found to be unsuitable, the remainder being certified as
medically fit. The majority of these children were maintained in residential
schools under the management of the Education Committee.
A full adoption order was made in respect of one child who was selected from
children in a public health nursery.
Institutional care of healthy children under three years of age.
The accommodation provided for healthy children under three years of age has
been reduced by the closure of the nursery at Hammersmith institution. The nursery
at Hackney institution has also been emptied in anticipation of the demolition of the
cottages to form the site for the new nurses' home. These cottages had been
adapted for use as a nursery but were so unsatisfactory for the purpose that their
use could be regarded only as a temporary expedient. The decrease in available cots