- Email: [email protected]
Midland Branch
1938
PUBLIC H E A L T H
companies. At Manhattan the health authorities allowed certain voluntary organisations free office accommodation at their centres in return for propaganda. Dr. Anderson also dealt in some detail with the recruitment of nurses for the Public Health Service in America and with the arrangements for pensions for workers in the Health Department. Dr. A. Massey then read a paper on the School Medical Service and Municipal Housing Schemes of Vienna. This city has a population of 1,875,000, or rather more than a quarter of the whole population of Austria, and it is a government and cultural centre rather than an industrial town. In 1935 approximately one-seventh of its entire population were in receipt of unemployment benefit. Its public educational system consists of (a) Nursery Schools, (b) Elementary Schools, (c) Middle Schools, (d) Technical Schools, and (e) the University. The compulsory school age is six to 14. Many of the Nursery Schools (for children of three to five years) were provided in connection with municipal housing estates. These kindergartens endeavour to give an elementary training in domestic subjects to the girls, whilst the boys are encouraged to take an interest in machinery. Folk dancing is part of the curriculum of both sexes in the school. In the kindergarten, a routine medical inspection is held once a month, but the system of medical inspection at the elementary schools follows closely that now in force in England and Wales. The school medical officers perform vaccination on request. Arrangements for dental prophylaxis and treatment are very complete and there are 16 special school dental clinics in Vienna alone. Dr. Massey then gave a description of the municipal flats he had inspected and said he was very favourably impressed by attractive elevation and ingenious planning with deep balconies to all upstairs flats. Despite the fact that the tenement system permitted a large number of dwellings on a comparatively small area of land, Viennese fiats were largely located at a distance MIDLAND BRANCH. from the city centre, the problem of connecting the President : Dr. E. Stanley Robinson (M.O.H., home with the workplace being met by special tram Stourport U.D.). services. Hon. Secretary : Dr. R. H. H. Jolly (M.O.H., WolverThe President moved a cordial vote of thanks to hampton C.B.). Dr. Anderson and Dr. Massey for their interesting The third meeting of the session was hem at the papers. This was seconded by Dr. Horsburgh and Medical Institute, 154, Great Charles Street, Birming- carried unanimously. On the proposition of the Hon. Secretary, seconded ham, on Thursday, December 2nd, 1937, at 3.15 p.m. by Dr. Paul, it was unanimously resolved to recommend The President and twenty-five members were present. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed the name of Dr. G. A. Auden, formerly School Medical Officer, Birmingham, to the Council of the Society for after the following amendment had been m a d e : In regard to the recommendation (i) re terminal the status of fully paid life membership. Dr. Auden disinfection the words in italics below were added (see joined the Society in 1910 and was President of the Midland Branch in 1920. PUBLIC HEALTH,December, p. 8 4 ) : Previous notice not having been given, Dr. Martine "(i) That terminal disinfection should not be carried out except after the following diseases: tuberculosis, obtained leave to move the following resolution: " T h a t this Branch formally protests against the smallpox, enteric group and dysentery group; books action of Lord Dawson and Sir E. Kaye Le should not be disinfected after any infectious disease Fleming in writing to the Press on an epidemioexcept the above-mentioned." logical problem which, in its opinion, should not Dr. G. N. Anderson gave a short description of some have been publicly discussed while sub )udice; of the public health activities of New York and further, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded Toronto. He found the Americans great believers in to the Council of the Society." publicity and propaganda by means of leaflets and This was seconded by Dr. Horsburgh and carried handbooks. Many of the health leaflets issued by the Public Health Department were printed by insurance n e r o . c o n .
mentioned that it was a pleasure to listen to such a fair minded speech by Dr. Boyde, and he said that the scientific argument displayed did much to emphasise the points made. He stated further that a very long experience in public health and previously general practice had not given him an opportunity of listening to a more balanced statement of the position. Dr. Powell mentioned that in his area ante-natal, post-natal and Public Assistance services were carried out to some extent by private doctors. Dr. Caryl Thomas made the point that if general practitioners attended clinics they were cutting across the idea of continuity of treatment and the personal contact of doctor and patient so strongly advocated by Dr. Boyde. Dr. Johns expressed doubt as to whether the average general practitioner should be entrusted with midwifery. Drs. Puddicombe, Tapper and Stott amongst others also spoke. In reply, Dr. Boyde said that in his view, all general practitioners should not be entrusted with midwifery but only those with special knowledge and experience of this subject. He also stated that he was not in favour of general practitioners actually attending clinics, but that they should conduct maternity and child welfare sessions in their own surgeries. He reiterated his view that with the extension of the health services as suggest~ed more whole-time Medical Officers would be required than were employed at present. Dr. Ferguson then moved in appropriate terms a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker. He declared that this was one of the most successful sessions of the Branch of recent years. He thought that meetings of a similar nature could very usefully be held more frequently. The vote, on being put to the meeting, was carried with acclamation and the meeting terminated at 5 p.m.
115
PUBLIC H E A L T H
companies. At Manhattan the health authorities allowed certain voluntary organisations free office accommodation at their centres in return for propaganda. Dr. Anderson also dealt in some detail with the recruitment of nurses for the Public Health Service in America and with the arrangements for pensions for workers in the Health Department. Dr. A. Massey then read a paper on the School Medical Service and Municipal Housing Schemes of Vienna. This city has a population of 1,875,000, or rather more than a quarter of the whole population of Austria, and it is a government and cultural centre rather than an industrial town. In 1935 approximately one-seventh of its entire population were in receipt of unemployment benefit. Its public educational system consists of (a) Nursery Schools, (b) Elementary Schools, (c) Middle Schools, (d) Technical Schools, and (e) the University. The compulsory school age is six to 14. Many of the Nursery Schools (for children of three to five years) were provided in connection with municipal housing estates. These kindergartens endeavour to give an elementary training in domestic subjects to the girls, whilst the boys are encouraged to take an interest in machinery. Folk dancing is part of the curriculum of both sexes in the school. In the kindergarten, a routine medical inspection is held once a month, but the system of medical inspection at the elementary schools follows closely that now in force in England and Wales. The school medical officers perform vaccination on request. Arrangements for dental prophylaxis and treatment are very complete and there are 16 special school dental clinics in Vienna alone. Dr. Massey then gave a description of the municipal flats he had inspected and said he was very favourably impressed by attractive elevation and ingenious planning with deep balconies to all upstairs flats. Despite the fact that the tenement system permitted a large number of dwellings on a comparatively small area of land, Viennese fiats were largely located at a distance MIDLAND BRANCH. from the city centre, the problem of connecting the President : Dr. E. Stanley Robinson (M.O.H., home with the workplace being met by special tram Stourport U.D.). services. Hon. Secretary : Dr. R. H. H. Jolly (M.O.H., WolverThe President moved a cordial vote of thanks to hampton C.B.). Dr. Anderson and Dr. Massey for their interesting The third meeting of the session was hem at the papers. This was seconded by Dr. Horsburgh and Medical Institute, 154, Great Charles Street, Birming- carried unanimously. On the proposition of the Hon. Secretary, seconded ham, on Thursday, December 2nd, 1937, at 3.15 p.m. by Dr. Paul, it was unanimously resolved to recommend The President and twenty-five members were present. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed the name of Dr. G. A. Auden, formerly School Medical Officer, Birmingham, to the Council of the Society for after the following amendment had been m a d e : In regard to the recommendation (i) re terminal the status of fully paid life membership. Dr. Auden disinfection the words in italics below were added (see joined the Society in 1910 and was President of the Midland Branch in 1920. PUBLIC HEALTH,December, p. 8 4 ) : Previous notice not having been given, Dr. Martine "(i) That terminal disinfection should not be carried out except after the following diseases: tuberculosis, obtained leave to move the following resolution: " T h a t this Branch formally protests against the smallpox, enteric group and dysentery group; books action of Lord Dawson and Sir E. Kaye Le should not be disinfected after any infectious disease Fleming in writing to the Press on an epidemioexcept the above-mentioned." logical problem which, in its opinion, should not Dr. G. N. Anderson gave a short description of some have been publicly discussed while sub )udice; of the public health activities of New York and further, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded Toronto. He found the Americans great believers in to the Council of the Society." publicity and propaganda by means of leaflets and This was seconded by Dr. Horsburgh and carried handbooks. Many of the health leaflets issued by the Public Health Department were printed by insurance n e r o . c o n .
mentioned that it was a pleasure to listen to such a fair minded speech by Dr. Boyde, and he said that the scientific argument displayed did much to emphasise the points made. He stated further that a very long experience in public health and previously general practice had not given him an opportunity of listening to a more balanced statement of the position. Dr. Powell mentioned that in his area ante-natal, post-natal and Public Assistance services were carried out to some extent by private doctors. Dr. Caryl Thomas made the point that if general practitioners attended clinics they were cutting across the idea of continuity of treatment and the personal contact of doctor and patient so strongly advocated by Dr. Boyde. Dr. Johns expressed doubt as to whether the average general practitioner should be entrusted with midwifery. Drs. Puddicombe, Tapper and Stott amongst others also spoke. In reply, Dr. Boyde said that in his view, all general practitioners should not be entrusted with midwifery but only those with special knowledge and experience of this subject. He also stated that he was not in favour of general practitioners actually attending clinics, but that they should conduct maternity and child welfare sessions in their own surgeries. He reiterated his view that with the extension of the health services as suggest~ed more whole-time Medical Officers would be required than were employed at present. Dr. Ferguson then moved in appropriate terms a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker. He declared that this was one of the most successful sessions of the Branch of recent years. He thought that meetings of a similar nature could very usefully be held more frequently. The vote, on being put to the meeting, was carried with acclamation and the meeting terminated at 5 p.m.
115