View report page

nursery in which a proportion of the children are under 2 years, it is necessary, in order
to prevent outbreaks of infectious disease, to exclude immediately any child whose symptoms
might indicate that he is about to develop an infectious condition. These outbreaks do, of
course, occur from time to time in spite of very watchful and efficient staff. At times when
measles or Sonne dysentery, for example, are epidemic in the neighbourhood, it is very likely
that cases will occur in the nurseries.
The incidence of infectious disease in the day nursery children varies considerably
from year to year, and this year we have been unfortunate in having a variety of different
infections. At Litchfield Avenue nursery there were 36 cases of measles, 5 of German measles
and 5 of impetigo. There were also 10 cases of diarrhoea during the year. These cases of
diarrhoea were all carefully investigated bacteriologically, but no pathogenic organisms
were found. At Plaistow Road nursery there were l6 cases of measles, 2 of German measles,
9 of chickenpox, 7 of mumps, 2 of scarlet fever, and at the beginning of the year there were
11 cases of whooping cough, 10 cases of tonsilitis, 7 of impetigo and, in addition, 10 cases
of haemolytic streptococcal infection. These three latter conditions were probably all due
to an outbreak of haemolytic streptococcal disease, possibly spread by a carrier. All the
children were investigated bacteriologically by means of nose and throat swabs, and one
or two children who had no symptoms were found to be carrying the germ in their throat or
nose. These were all referred to their general practitioner for appropriate treatment, and
excluded until the medical officer was satisfied that they were free from infection, after
this no fresh cases occurred.
The Cumberland Road Day Nursery which is under the auspices of the Canning Town
Women's Settlement, has provided places for 30 children throughout the year. It is visited
regularly by one of the Council's health visitors, and by a medical officer from time to time.
There was only one child minder on the register, and she did not have any children
in her care during the year.
Welfare Foods
The distribution of Welfare Foods from the Child Welfare Centres and the Public Hall,
Canning Town, continued during the year, but the W.V.S. ceased to give this service from their
headquarters in Romford Road. Instead, they took over the distribution of Welfare Foods from
the West Ham Lane Maternity and Child Welfare Centre where the Council was able to offer them
part of the recently extended premises. This Centre now undertakes the distribution of
Welfare Foods for a large part of the north of the Borough, catering for all mothers and
pre-school children in the area, whether or not they attend the local clinic.
During 1957, the Ministry of Health issued a circular explaining that the Minister
had accepted the advice of his Medical Advisory Committee and had decided to reduce the
amount of vitamin D in the National Dried Milk and Cod Liver Oil preparations supplied by
the Ministry. Manufacturers of proprietary dried milks and infant cereals were also asked
to adopt the levels of fortification recommended by the Committee. The circular points out
that mothers with young children will require individual advice about their children's
vitamin D intake. The appendix to the circular provides a short note for medical and
nursing staff engaged in maternal and child welfare work. The circular also announces a
limitation of the distribution of Welfare Orange Juice to children up to the age of 2 (and
not to the age of 5, as previously). This circular was implemented on the 1st November, 1957.
It may be remembered that our 1956 Annual Report Included an account of a small survey of
50