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Nursing Assistance. Previous to 1926, nursing assistance
was only provided by the Council under this scheme for
cases of measles and ophthalmia neonatorum. In 1926, these
services were extended to include cases of zymotic enteritis,
puerperal fever, acute poliomyelitis, and whooping cough,
and in October, 1926, to puerperal pyrexia. Cases of these
diseases which come to the notice of the Medical Officer of
Health are visited by the health visitor, and the Medical
Officer of Health decides whether nursing is required. The
Council do not pay a retaining fee to the District Nursing
Association, but they pay a fee per visit, the rate being as
follows:—In the case of all these diseases, except puerperal
fever and puerperal pyrexia, Is. per visit for one case, and
6d. a case for more than one case in the house at the same
time. For puerperal fever and puerperal pyrexia, a uniform
fee of Is. 3d. is paid.
Research Work on the Health of the Toddler. At the
request of the Ministry of Health, arrangements were made
to keep under observation, for a period of three years, a
certain number of children between the ages of one and five
years coming within the three following groups:—
1. Unselected children in attendance at an Infant
Welfare Centre.
2. Catarrhal children in attendance at an Infant
Welfare Centre.
3. Two, or more children in the same family—"Good"
and " Bad " families.
This work, which has been done by Dr. N. MacLennan, was
carried on throughout the year.
Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions
Act, 1925. In March, 1926, the Council resolved to inform
the London County Council that it was prepared to undertake
the powers and duties of a local authority under the
provisions of Section 6 of this Act. Section 6 of this Act
provides that in certain circumstances, e.g., desertion or
abandonment of a child, the Ministry may direct that the