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106
It will be clearly understood that it is the final reduction of
the last remaining death it is possible to prevent, which is going to
be the most difficult.
Of the 49 deaths of infants under the age of one year, five were
due to broncho-pneumonia following measles, of which we had an
epidemic in the earlier part of the year.
Of particular interest to me were the four deaths from gastro
enteritis following eczema of the scalp. In view of the fact that
eczema of the scalp in a mild form is fairly common amongst
children, parents should lose no time in seeking medical advice for
this condition.
67. ILLEGITIMACY.
Twenty-two illegitimate children were born during the year,
and in the same period three deaths of illegitimate infants occurred;
the infantile mortality rate among these children was therefore
136.4, while that for legitimate infants was 59.2.
This difference between 59.2 and 136.4 shows how hopelessly
illegitimate children are handicapped from birth, and although
I have said elsewhere that " The problem of illegitimate infants
... is not a serious one in Barking, and the fact that we do not find
it a serious problem, indicates that the various agencies which are
operating in the area meet the demands of the area," and although
Barking must be considered to be fairly well off in so far as these
facilities are concerned, it is obvious that a lot yet remains to be
done.
68. DENTAL CLINIC.
A general increase in this branch of the work has been taking
place, and during 1930 the attendances of expectant and nursing
mothers and of children referred from the Maternity and Child
Welfare Clinics were as follows:—
(a) Number of treatments of children 519