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Routine investigations were also made by the Assistant Medical
Officer, when notices were given by the midwives in Romford that
they were liable to be a source of infection, by reason of attendance
on patients who had developed a rise in temperature, indicating
puerperal pyrexia, or where babies showed a rash, or discharges
from the eyes. Reports on the results of these investigations have
been forwarded to the County Medical Officer.
(v) Adoption of Children (Regulation) Act, 1939.
Again, at the request of the various Adoption Societies, many
enquiries were made by the staff of the department as to the suitability
of persons desiring to adopt children, and, on being informed
by the societies that such children had been received, further inspections
were carried out, and the Adoption Societies notified
accordingly. I feel, however, that it would be an advantage if the
Court, on granting an Adoption Order would, at the same time,
inform the Health Department, so that a more complete check
could be kept on adoptions. There has been a considerable rise in
the numbers of adoptions during the war period, and, so far,
there has been little evidence of abatement.
The following statistics are given, as requested by Circular
2790 of the Ministry of Health.

(vi) The Care of Illegitimate Children.
The draft scheme of the Essex County Council, referred to in
my last Report, was duly received, and presented to the Public
Health Committee, which forwarded their observations, mainly of
a financial character to the County. Further consideration was
being given to this matter by the County Council at the end of
the year.