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35
(i) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
After twenty-five years as a Medical Officer of
Health, I am happy to be able to say that not one of the
many cases of ophthalmia neonatorum with which I
have dealt administratively has ever had any residual
disability.
Hitherto, I have been at pains not to halloo until
we are out of the woods but now that treatment by
penicillin and other new drugs is added to our armamentorium
and the future appears to be assured I
believe that we can begin to boast of the good results
which were achieved before the advent of these new
and wonderful drugs.
(j) Adoption of Children {Regulation) Act, 1939.
Section 7 of this Act requires all persons participating
in any arrangements for the placing of children
to notify the Welfare Authority in writing.—No such
notifications were received in the year 1945.
(k) War-time Daj Nurseries.
These nurseries were primarily established to meet
wartime conditions but experience has shown they
should be an integral feature of the social services
provided by a local authority.
Nurseries are required chiefly for :—
(a) Women who are forced by circumstances to
earn a living in order to support their children,
e.g. unmarried mothers and widows ;
(b) To assist domestic arrangements during confinements
and family illness ;