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This table shows that 59 infants under one year of
age died during the year 1937. 59 were registered
during the year, giving an Infantile Death Rate per
1,000 live births of 44.73. Rates over previous years
have been : —
1931 48.2 per 1,000 live births
1932 62.6
1933 48.3
1934 45.0
1935 43.9
1936 53.8
Thirty-four of these deaths, i.e., 57.6 per cent,
occurred in the neonatal period, i.e., within one month
cf birth. In 1936 the corresponding figure was 57 per
cent. Much further reduction in the number of infantile
deaths during the neonatal period does not seem imminent,
but with increasing knowledge and care of infants,
there should be some reduction of deaths due to pulmonary
and intestinal infections.
SECTION B.—GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH
SERVICES FOR THE BOROUGH.
Isolation Hospital.
Bexley is the largest single constituent authority of
the Dartford Joint Hospital Committee, which provides
the Isolation Hospital known as Bow Arrow at Dartford.
The rebuilding and extensions at Bow Arrow Hospital
are continuing, and the most notable feature during
1937 was the opening of the cubicle block so that it
is now possible to provide accommodation for almost any
type of infectious disease. The value of cubicle isolation
will become evident in the prevention of complications
of the commoner infectious diseases, and will, no
doubt, result in a decrease of the average number of days
stay. It is now possible to obtain admission for cases of
severe or complicated measles or whooping cough, or for
uncomplicated cases where home conditions for adequate
nursing are not suitable.
The replacement of temporary buildings at the hospital
continues, and no doubt future developments there
will be on the lines of more provision of cubicle blocks.
One feels that future isolation hospital provision should