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22
to a scale adopted by the Committee with regard to family income
and the number of children, were made in 251 cases. Some
restriction of this useful work has been necessitated by the decision
of the Committee that no assistance should be given in cases of
destitution. As many of these cases consist of unmarried mothers
or families who decline to apply for Poor Law Relief, several cases
have been thus debarred from help under the Council's scheme.
Nursing Assistance.
Arrangements have been made with the Isleworth Nursing
Association whereby nursing assistance may be obtained for
maternity cases.
Hospital Accommodation.
The need for hospital accommodation for maternity cases and
for sick children has been reported on and has been discussed during
the year, but owing to the difficulties in the way of securing
suitable premises, no definite steps have yet been taken in the
matter.
Infant Deaths, Still Births, Measles, etc.
Infant Deaths are systematically enquired into, 73 visits
having been paid for this purpose. Still Births have not yet been
investigated, but 15 are noted as having occurred during the year.*
For the incidence of infectious disease among parturient women
and children see the table on page 38.
The following numbers of visits were paid in connection with
infectious disease among mothers and young children:—Puerperal
Fever, 1; Measles, 107; Ophthalmia Neonatorum, 28. Three of
the cases of Ophthalmia notified were being nursed at home, both
eyes being affected. No special measures have been adopted for
dealing with unmarried mothers or illegitimate children, as such,
but much useful assistance has been rendered in these cases through
the Council's scheme for grants of milk and food.
Voluntary Societies.
The Isleworth Nursing Association is the only local Voluntary
Society in direct contact with the Council's Maternity and Child
Welfare Scheme. Negotiations are, however, pending with the
Ellis Day Nursery at Hounslow.