County Borough Group

21

P U B L I C H E A L T H , November, 1943 especially with (1) bedroom sizes, cubic air space per person; (2) methods of ventilation ; (3) the value of proper heating arrangements from the health point of view ; (4) the value of refrigeration for food storage; (5) the position of bathroom and VV.C. ; (6) the value of proper orientation; (7) methods of education in good housekeeping. Fully-paid Life Membership.--Dr. James McConnell, formerly Medical Officer of Health for Tynemouth, was elected to fully-paid life membership of the Society on the nomination of the Northern Branch. Annual Report of CounciL--The annual report of the Council was adopted and approved for publication in PUBLIC HEALTH (p. 20). The Retiring President.--On the completion of his year of office a very cordial vote of thanks was extended to Dr. Cyril Banks for his services as Chairman of Council during the past session. The Council then adjourned. REPORT OF THE HONORARY TaEAstmER FOR THE SESSION 1942-43.

Income.--The total income for the year has been £3,796 13s. l i d . as compared with £3,728 13s. 8d. in the previous year. Expenditure.--The actual expenditure during the year was £3,258 16s. ld. as compared with £3,246 13s. 4d. in the previous year. It should be observed that the travelling expenses exceed the travelling expenses for the year 1941-42 by a sum of £115 4s. 8d. Revenue Account.--It is satisfactory to record that the revenue account shows a credit balance of £537 17s. 10d. on the year's working. Balance Sheet.--The market value of investments at September 30th, 1943, was £9,905 1 ls. as compared with £9,354 7s. 2d. at the same date in the previous year. Staff.--I desire to record my appreciation of the assistance given me by Captain G. S. Elliston, M.P., Acting Secretary of the Society, and the staff generally in respect of my work as Treasurer. GEORGE F. BUCHAN,

Hon. Treasurer. MATERNITY

AND

CHILD

WELFARE

GROUP

President: Dr. Catherine Morris Jones. Hon. See. : Dr. Violet Russell. Hon. Assistant Secretary : Dr. Katherine Hirst. The annual general meeting was held in London on July 9th, being combined with a social evening: 49 members and friends attended. Reports were presented by the Group Representative on the Council and by the Secretaries, and the Officers and Committee for the ensuing year were elected. The President reviewed the large amount of work carried out by the Group Committee during the past year. In making the usual annual stock-taking it was desirable to give thought to the morrow and to define the trend of measures largely introduced as war emergencies. The long-term policy for maternity and child welfare would affect the well-being of future generations of women and children. The principles behind the present work were sound and should be embodied in future plans. Members of the M. & C.W. service had the opportunity of seeing people as they are. Doctors engaged in curative work knew their patients under abnormal conditions when pain and anxiety were to the fore ; it was when people were seen in their everyday frame of mind that character could be assessed at a fair level. The doctor in the maternity and child welfare service was regarded as a friend and adviser by the mothers who came for consultation and they could testify to the genuine concern of most of the mothers to do their best 'for the children in spite of home difficulties. The future of medicine, housing and education had been discussed ad nauseam, but the point of view of the mothers of the families had perhaps not been sufficiently ascertained. Had it not been assumed that they should have what was thought to be good for them--like cabbage and rice pudding for children--rather than any investigation as to what they really wanted for themselves and their families in a changed social order ? After the last war, continued Dr. Morris Jones, came the extension of the franchise and the enforced celibacy of many women owing to the loss of the men of their generation. The extension of the franchise did not produce the results anticipated, but the shortage of men resulted in an increased mtmber of women taking up careers and to a certain extent coming into competition with men. What would be the outcome of the present struggle ? We saw already a levelling of the community with less difference between rich "and poor. Large country mansions had been transformed into hostels, nurseries and maternity homes, and their broad acres ploughed up for the common need. These would not return in their old form. Feudal traditions which had been responsible in the past for the encouragement of much culture, beauty and craftsmanship a n d for fine feelings of responsibility and loyalty would die, and we yet did not know what would take their place.

T h e old cleavage between town and country was also dying ; the village girl used her lipstick and tripped in high-heeled shoes, while the village yokel no longer had straws in his hair. Town dwellers had brought shrewdness and humour to the countryside as well as less desirable things, and had themselves learned the benefits of space, fresh air, and sunlight. In another sphere the dearth of domestic assistance had resulted in women of all classes undertaking housework and housekeeping, with a consequent realisation of other peoples' cares and difficulties. In other words, one-half of the world was beginning to know how the other half lived. In life actively related to the war, women had taken a greater part than ever before. Their war contribution, in which they had shared the same hardships and dangers as men, entitled them to hope for security in their own homes after the war, and to know that their children would have an opportunity of reaching the sphere which their capabilities would allow. Other women had found an outlet in work which they did not desire to lose and should not be obliged to lose. Women wanted to continue to share in the life of the community and to accept their responsibilities in a new world and they should be allowed to do so. COUNTY

BOROUGH

GROUP

President : Dr. J. Johnstone Jervis (M.O.H., Leeds). Vice-President : Dr. J. A. Charles (M.O.H., Newcastle). T h e 5th Annual Meeting of the County Borough Group of the Society was held at Leeds during the week-end July 16th-19th. The chair was occupied by the President, and there were present 41 members and one visitor. The following were appointed as Officers of the Group for the year 1943-44: President, Dr. Charles, M.O.H., Newcastle; VicePresident, Dr. Massey, M . O . H , Coventry; Executive Committee, Dr. Williamson, M.O.H., Portsmouth; Dr. Walton, M.O.H., West Bromwich; Dr. Jolly, M.O.H., Wolverhampton; Hon. See., Treasurer and Representative in Council, Dr. Lilico, M.O.H., Derby. T h e Hon. Secretary stated that a financial grant was now given to the Group by the Society, and the statement of accounts was placed before the meeting and accepted. A memorandum was received from the County Medical Officers relating to a circular letter (Oct. 1Oth, 1941) from the Central Midwives Board. The County Medical Officers suggested that a new rule should be added by the Board--namely, " 4(a) Where a hospital or institution has accepted responsibility for the attendance on a patient for her confinement in that hospital or institution, they and their Officers shall be responsible for seeing that all the rules appropriate to the case are observed " - - a n d that the Group should support an application to the Ministry for an alteration in the law to enable this rule to be added. Although the Group were in full agreement with the suggested new rule, they were not prepared to asked the Ministry of Health to take action now. Dr. Semple, Carlisle, opened a discussion on staffing of hospitals, direction of nurses, etc. This brought forth the number of difficulties encountered following the introduction of the Ru.shcliffe scales and the omission f r o m that scale of various members Jof hospital personnel. The following resolution was passed, and the Secretary was instructed to forward it to the Council of the Society : " That the Association of Municipal Corporations be asked to take up the question of salaries of all s t a f s in hospitals and public health departments who are not already covered by national or other trade agreements." Two sessions were directed to a study of the Beveridge R e p o r t - Assumption B. The subject was introduced by Prof. Mackintosh, Glasgow University, in a masterly oration, and the discussion which followed was both spirited and illuminating. During the afternoon a visit was made to St. James's Hospital, where the Group was entertained by the Superintendent, Dr. Dick, who showed the recent extensions to the hospital, consisting of a suite of operating theatres, a radiological unit, physiotherapy and rehabilitation unit, a pathological block and a nurses' training school with lecture theatre, library anct demonstration rooms. Owing to the unfortunate indisposition of Dr. Charles (Newcastle), a session on rehabilitation was introduced by Dr. H. Balme, Ministry of Health. Without a note, Dr. Balme gave a discourse on a subject which was new to most of those present. T h e Sunday evening session was occupied by Dr. Ingrain, Leeds University Skin Department, who talked on modern trends in industrial health. He showed how medicine had been linked up with industry in Leeds, and gave details of the constitution of a loint Council of Industrial Medicine which had been formed in Leeds and the type of work which was being carried out. On Sunday afternoon the Group was entertained by Sir George Martin, K.B.E. (Chairman of the Health Committee). Election -of Officers, Session 1943-44.--Southern Branch; President, Dr. W. P. Cargill,