View report page

Officer a report is received in regard to home and economic conditions.
The register of cases notified as suffering from Tuberculosis
is consulted in order to eliminate any possibility of introducing
a child into an infected family.
The foster mother must comply, if registered, with all rules
under this Act and with the regulations of the Council, which include
provision of a fire-guard, separate and suitable sleeping
accommodation for the child, and attendance at an Infant Welfare
Centre in the Borough until such time as the child goes to school.
Registered foster mothers are visited as a routine by the
Health Visitors at least once every two months.
In no case was legal proceedings taken in 1935.
At the end of 1935 there were 42 foster-mothers on the
Register, and 42 children registered as foster children.
Registration was refused to two applicants on the grounds of
unsatisfactory home conditions.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
During 1935 there were 17 cases of Ophthalmia Neonatorum
notified to the Medical Officer of Health. The Health Visitors
investigate and report upon all such cases occurring in West Ham
residents. Weekly or more frequent visits are paid until the case
is completed in order to ensure that the mother carries out the
treatment recommended.
The Council have an agreement with the London County
Council whereby an infected infant and its mother can be admitted
immediately to St. Margaret's Hospital, Kentish Town, for specialist
treatment.
Analysis of Notified Cases.
Total Cases = 17.
Total West Ham residents = 15.
Number of cases treated at home = 11.
Number of cases treated in hospital = 6.
Vision unimpaired = 17.
Number of deaths = 1.
(Cause of death = Marasmus.
Age at death = 3 months.)
Pemphigus Neonatorum.
There was no case of this disease notified to the Medical
Officer of Health during 1935.
63