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67
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Year ending 31st December, 1936,
on
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
The arrangements made by the Council for discharging the functions of the Local Authority
under Part I. of the Children Act, 1908, were dealt with in the 1930 Annual Health Report. The
Health Visitors have been appointed Infant Protection Visitors. The Council fix the number
of children to be kept by each foster mother. They consider cases where there appears to be any
contravention of the Children & Young Persons Acts, 1908-1933, or where the foster mother or
foster home appears unsuitable. They draw the attention of the public to the requirements of the
Act from time to time by means of posters, handbills and advertisements in the local press and
arrange for the advertisements in the local press to be scrutinized for anyone enquiring for or offering
homes for children for reward or adoption. A report on Infant Life Protection appeared as
Appendix G in 1931.
The provisions of the Children & Young Persons Act, 1932, relating to Infant Life Protection
came into operation on 1st January, 1933. These provisions amend Part 1 of the Children Act,
1908. The principal amendments are as set out in the 1933 Annual Health Report, page 61.
Two foster children died during the year. The cause of death in one case was certified as
broncho-pneumonia and in the other as infantile convulsions due to the pressure of large hard milk
curds in stomach and bowels. No inquests were held in connection with deaths of foster children in
1936. In addition, four children died in hospital within 3 hours to 10 days of admission to hospital
from foster homes. The causes of death were certified as:—1. Convulsions, Whooping Cough,
Rickets; 2. Whooping Cough and Pneumonia; 3. Gastro-Enteritis; 4. Measles and Pneumonia.
Proceedings were taken in one case for failure to notify reception of child. An application
from this Foster Mother to keep a Foster Child had been refused by the Council in 1933. She was
sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment.

* In these 16 cases the licenses were re-issued in respect of new premises.
†The actual number of new individual Foster Children who came under observation was 186