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Infant Mortality.—There were 68 deaths of infants under
twelve months of age, giving an infant mortality-rate of 41.29* per
1,000 births. This may be compared with a rate for the previous
five years (1935-39) of 62.0 The deaths of illegitimate infants
numbered 3, giving an illegitimate infant death rate of 31.25.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
The activities of the Council under this heading were continued
during 1940 with only a few curtailments noted below.
Temporary interference was caused when the centre at
55, Mundella Road, having been damaged two nights previously
by incendiary bombs was demolished by enemy high explosive on
the night of 18th September. Two months later (17th November)
a portion of the Southlands building, including part of the Infant
Welfare Centre, was also demolished, and it became necessary to
house the centre in Southlands School adjoining, which was
standing empty.
Grants.—The Committee at the beginning of the year reviewed
the grants which they were accustomed to pay to various
bodies carrying on work ancillary to the scheme for maternity and
child welfare. Each case was considered, but no reduction was
made, and the grants to the Invalid Children's Aid Association
and the St. Thomas's Babies Hostel were increased.
Infant Welfare Centres.—717 sessions, 28,846 attendances.
Ante-Natal Clinics.—227 sessions, 2,417 attendances.
Mothercrajt Classes.—303 meetings, 3,107 attendances.
Dental Clinic.—222 sessions, 1,976 attendances, 302 new
patients. This clinic was destroyed when the Southlands Centre
was bombed. Arrangements for re-establishment of the clinic
were not complete at the end of the year.
Toddlers' Clinics were discontinued on the outbreak of war.
During 1940, 586 first attendances were made by toddlers at the
Infant Welfare Clinics.
Artificial Light Treatment.—112 sessions, 51 patients, 1,223
attendances.
Massage Clinic.—129 sessions, 918 attendances, 45 new
patients.
The two last-mentioned clinics, owing to falling attendances,
were closed at the end of September, and for a similar reason the
gynaecological clinic, which was established in 1939, was discontinued
in October.
Hospitals.—675 cases were referred to hospitals, etc., from
the Welfare Centres, and 2,323 visits were paid at the request of
various hospitals.
Milk.—In August the Government scheme for the supply of
milk at cheap rates to expectant and nursing mothers and children
under 5 years of age came into force throughout the country,
and thereafter the Council's scheme, which had been in operation
*This figure is, by direction of the Registrar-General, based on a
total of 1,647 births.