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by the Board of Guardians is linked up with the work of the
Public Health Department, has continued to work in a satisfactory
manner.
Death of Nurse-child.—One death occurred of a nurse-child
in the Ilford district during the year.
The child, a female, aged 4 months, was brought by its
mother from Yorkshire to Chadwell Heath, on the 8th June,
apparently in good health, became unwell soon after arrival but
was not seen by a doctor until after its death on the 10th June.
An inquest was held and a certificate of death was given for
"pneumonia accelerated by a long train journey taken two days
before death."
The foster-mother stated that she received no money for the
child; it was not therefore a "foster-child" within the meaning
of the Act.
Having been informed by the Infant Life Protection Visitor
of the death, the Medical Officer of Health attended the inquest
and was allowed by the Coroner to put questions to the fostermother
which brought out the facts that she had received the sum
of £130 for the reception of another foster-child which she had
not notified to the Infant Life Protection Visitor, and also that
the mother of the dead child had taken another foster-child from
Ilford to another person in Pontypool. The Coroner in giving his
verdict stated:—
"I think it is undesirable that little children should be
planted about the country in this way, coming down from
Yorkshire to Essex, and remaining a few days, a week, or a
couple of weeks, and then being sent to Pontypool. It cannot
be good for their health and it is not good for those persons
appointed by the Government to look after the welfare of
children."
The Sanitary Inspectors have visited all the houses which
have been reported during the year as accommodating fosterchildren.