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midwives fees were wholly or partly paid in cases of distress and
necessity.
When the Committee was disbanded, the work was carried
on by the Health Committee of the Council, and last year 34 maternity
bags were loaned, 15 mothers were assisted and £12 14s. 6d.
was paid in fees.
It is admitted that the co-operation of the midwives is
necessary in pre-natal work, and every attempt has been made to
secure this co-operation. In spite of every effort on our part the
co-operation of the midwives has not yet been secured, and we have
not received the assistance of the midwives either in our ante-natal
or post-natal work,
Health visiting has been carried out in the district since 1904.
At that time the work of Health Visitor and School Nurse was combined
by one person. A second nurse was appointed to devote herself
entirely to school work.
At the commencement of 19x9, there were two health visitors
and 2 school nurses. During the year a fifth nurse was appointed,
partly for school work and partly to carry out and superintend the
home nursing of Measles. The home nursing of Measles was new
work, and like all innovations, its value is not at once appreciated by
those for whom it is intended. At any rate, the services of the
nurse have not been utilized for the purpose, and there are various
reasons for the lack of appreciation.
As is well known, it takes some time before the value of any
new work is appreciated, and especially in the case of Measles. Unfortunately,
Measles is looked upon as a very benign and innocent
disease, and where care is exercised Measles is not frequently fatal.
It is not yet fully realised that care is necessary if life is to be saved
in epidemics of Measles.
It is also certain that less women are now engaged in extradomestic
duties than formerly, and instruction in the care of Measles
is alone necessary; in most instances the mother can probably do
the nursing.
Most of the cases of Measles and German Measles notified,
were visited, but in no case was any nursing of the home cases undertaken.