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108
promptly after notification, and giving clear and
definite instructions as to disinfection, the protection
of food from flies and dust, and precautions
against the spread of infection generally. The
majority of people are still surprisingly ignorant
of the infectious nature of diarrhoea. In clean
and well-kept houses it was very common to find
soiled clothing exposed in such a manner that flies
could easily carry infection.
Owing to the large number of cases of epidemic
diarrhoea the number of visits paid in respect
of births is lower during 1911 than in previous
years. The work tends, too, to increase in variety
and so to absorb time which would otherwise be given
to infant-visiting. Ophthalmia Neonatorum is now
a notifiable disease. Ophthalmia occurring in school
children and reported by teachers necessitated a
good many visits during the year.
I have given more time in the past year to the re-visiting
of cases of Consumption, where the conditions as regards
cleanliness of the premises and isolation of the
patient were unsatisfactory. 247 visits were paid
in 1911, as compared with 101 in 1910.
The work of the Infant Consultation, held on Wednesday
afternoons at the Town Hall, still goes on and
plays a useful part in furthering the welfare of
infants in the Borough. The average attendance
is not large, but on the whole those who do come
attend regularly and take a keen interest in the
growth and development of their children, and
appreciate the benefits of having them under regular
scientific supervision. General hygienic and dietetic
advice only is given at the Consultation. If a