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confidence. An unsuccessful attempt was made during the year
to induce the Brentford Union Guardians to appoint the Health
Visitors as Infant Protection Visitors under the Children Act, 1908.
The need for a further Health Visitor has been pointed out by
the Ministry of Health and has been endorsed by the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee, but the proposal of the latter that
provision should be made in the Council's estimate for the purpose
was not acceded to.
Home Visiting.
The Health Visitors have visited 667 babies in the course of
the year, and have also made 3,311 re-visits. There were 15 still
births. The enquiries made at the original visits to babies elicited
the following results:—
Feeding—Natural 469.
Artificial 48.
Both 17.
No information 133.
Sleeping with parents 300.
Using comforter 182.
Mother working during pregnancy 73.
These figures show an improvement on those for last year,
the percentage of children who are receiving the mother's milk
being 88 as compared with 86, and the percentage of women
employed during pregnancy being 11 as compared with 15.
Home Help for Mothers.
A Home Help was appointed by the Committee in March to
assist mothers with their domestic work during their confinement.
Her services have proved very useful and have been much
appreciated.
Grants of Milk and Food.
Much good has been done daring the year by making grants
of milk and food to expectant and nursing mothers and of milk to
children under five years. Grants, which are regulated according