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Milk, Vitamins, etc.—The Food Executive Officer has kindly provided the following information as to dried milk
supplied under the National Scheme during the period 3rd January, 1943, to 1st January, 1944 : full cream, 1,929-20 oz.
cartons ; half cream, 220 cartons—'total 2,149 (free, 527 cartons ; at l/2d. per carton, 1,622 cartons). Distribution
of vitamin preparations was also made as follow : cod liver oil, 4.201 -13½ oz. bottles ; orange juice, 25 496-6 oz. bottles ;
vitamin A and D tablets (available to expectant mothers from 18th April, 1943), 625 packets, each packet containing
45 capsules—a six weeks' supply.
From 1st January, 1943, to 24th July, 1943, special baby clothing coupons were issued to 531 expectant mothers.
Since the scheme came into operation on 6th August, 1941', the Department had distributed coupons to 1,602 expectant
mothers. As from 26th July, 1943, the issue of coupons was undertaken by the local Food Office.
Day Nurseries.—At the end of the year four war-time day nurseries (whole-time) with a total of 202 places for
children 0—5 years of age, were functioning in the Borough. Two, opened in 1942, are established in premises built
specially for the purpose before the war ; the remaining two, opened in 1943, are conducted in large private houses
taken over temporarily and adapted for nursery use. The last nursery in operation has the advantage of a spacious
garden at the rear ; playing space on grass for the children in the other three nurseries has been set aside in nearby
public or private gardens. All the nurseries are affiliated to the National Society of Children's Nurseries as training
centres for the Nursery Nurses' Diploma. Though these nurseries have been established primarily for the purpose of
enabling mothers to take up full-time war work, they provide conditions which must be of great benefit to the children
themselves ; indeed, improvement in their health has been consistently noted.
Home Helps.—Great difficulty was again experienced in securing women suitable and willing to undertake this
essential work and thus enable more confinements to take place at home with a corresponding lessening of the demand
for institutional accommodation. Advertisements for a full-time home help were published in the local press, but no
replies were received, probably because in these times there are more attractive and more highly paid positions available
to women who migh normally be prepared to carry out the duties of a home help. Assistance in the home was actually
provided in four cases during the year.
Child Life Protection.—The Council's eight, health visitors acted as child protection visitors and made a total of
36 inspections. The number of persons on the register who. at the end of the year, were undertaking for reward the
nursing and maintenance of foster children, was three, and the children in their care numbered three. In a prosecution
for failure to give notice of the reception of a foster child, an Order was obtained for removal of the child to a place
of safety ; the defendant was bound over on the condition not to undertake the care of foster children.
Illegitimate Children.—Following the issue of Ministry of Health Circular No. 2866 (revised) on the 16th November,
1943. the problems arising under war conditions in regard to illegitimate children were, at the end of the year, receiving
special consideration by the official bodies and voluntary organisations concerned with the welfare of these children.
Dental Treatment.—By arrangement, certain sessions at the Dental Clinic of the London County Council at No. 217,
Lisson Grove are set aside for the inspection and treatment of mothers and children under the maternity and child
welfare scheme of the Borough Council. Statistics for 1943 : sessions held, 96 ; new cases—mothers 148, children 22 ;
attendances—mothers 667, children 51 ; X-ray examinations, 11 ; extractions—mothers 390, children 13; patients
provided with dentures at cost price, 28 ; fillings, 175 ; other operations, 494.
Maternity Cases.—Accommodation for maternity cases was available within the Borough at the Middlesex Hospital,
and also at the Paddington Hospital of the London County Council. After consultations with the County Council
and the Middlesex Hospital authorities, arrangements were made for the Hospital to take in, as from the 28th August,
1943, the whole of the Borough as its extern district for domiciliary midwifery. The emergency obstetric service of the
London County Council and a panel of local obstetric consultants continued to be available for any doctor in the area
needing assistance in difficulties or complications arising during pregnancy or at or after confinement.
Convalescent Homes.—One mother and baby were sent for four weeks to a post-natal home near Hertford ; a
mother and twins to a post-natal home in Reading for four weeks ; and one child to a convalescent home at Byfleet
for six weeks.
SECTION C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Water.—Apart from water obtained for domestic purposes from private wells at three large blocks of flats, a constant
supply throughout the Borough is provided through the mains of the Metropolitan Water Board, and no complaint
as to insufficiency or quality was received during the year. In accordance with the. provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, the Board notified ten instances where water had been cut off in occupied premises for nonpayment
of rate ; in all cases the supply was reinstated after service of an intimation notice. Private well waters were
examined periodically by the Public Analyst and the Council's Bacteriologist with satisfactory results.
Drainage.—The number of plans approved was 54 (52 relating to old buildings and 2 to new premises). In addition,
one plan was deposited in connection with amenities in a public air-raid shelter. Inspections made by the sanitary
inspectors numbered 1,447.
Combined Drainage.—Orders under seal as to combined drainage were issued in respect of 2 premises.
Public Conveniences.—The usual Supervision was exercised over the 15 public sanitary conveniences (11 for men,
4 for women).
Public Cleansing and Salvage.—Amounts dealt with : house and trade refuse, 20,517 tons ; street sweepings and
gulley slop, 2,015¼ tons ; salvaged materials, 3.043¾ tons, including 1,215¾ tons of kitchen waste for pig and poultry
feeding collected from 550 bins placed at inteivals in the streets for the reception of this material. A sum of
£10,440 7s. 9d. was obtained from the sale of salvaged materials. In addition, £128 Is. 4d. was received for the removal
of trade refuse, green offal, and the cleansing of petrol interceptors.
Shops.—Inspections under the Shops Act, 1934, numbered 317. In 11 instances service of notice was necessary.