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arrange for the cleansing of those found to be verminous.
This work naturally fell on Miss Middlebrooke, and has
grown to such an extent as to take up the greater part of
her time. Consequently she has been for some years unable
to attend to houses registered under the By-laws nor to
measles eases, and it is necessary to leave this work to a
male inspector.
The By-laws deal mainly with the habits of tenants,
especially the housewife's habits, and can consequently be
more effectively enforced by a woman who understands
women's work and difficulties.
Miss FitzGerald's duties comprise advising mothers as to
the care of infants, and the prevention of infant mortality,
visiting homes where phthisis exists, and notified cases of
certain infectious diseases, as enteritis and ophthalmia neonatorum.
Miss FitzGerald has never been able to do as
much of this work as was desirable, and has been obliged
especially to neglect the visiting of cases of infectious disease.
The visiting of such cases necessarily nursed at home, as
phthisis, measles, enteritis, etc., is work which cannot be
properly performed by male inspectors. During the year the
Committee sanctioned the employment of an unpaid Health
Visitor, who, while gaining experience to fit her for a paid
post, gives useful assistance in health visiting and the
infants' consultation. There is still, however, great and
increasing need of an additional woman inspector.
The following is Miss Middlebrooke's Report: —
Women's Lavotaries at Railway Stations, etc.
Number of Inspections 95
„ Found dirty and defective 7