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8
DIARRHŒA AND EPIDEMIC ENTERITIS.
Deaths classified in the tables supplied by the RegistrarGeneral
as diarrhœa, epidemic enteritis, enteritis and gastro enteritis,
have been included as "diarrhœal" deaths: as this classification
corresponds with that adopted in former years, comparisons made on
the resultant figures are valid.
During 1917 diarrhœa and epidemic enteritis accounted for 7
deaths of infants under one year of age, 28 others being due to enteritis
or gastro-enteritis, making a total of 35 deaths from "diarrhœal"
diseases. A further 6 deaths at ages from one year or upwards were
due to these diseases.
INFANT CENTRES.
The Borough Centre is held in the same place—228, London
Road—as the School Treatment Centre and the Spinal Remedial Class.
The Infant work consists of two medical consultations weekly on
Tuesday and Friday afternoons. At the medical consultations there
have been during the year 1917 approximately thirty-five children
attending each afternoon. The progress made by the children is
extremely gratifying in practically all instances. Acute illnesses are
not dealt with, being referred to hospital or private medical men.
Infant foods and, to a small extent, special foods for mothers are
obtainable at the Centre. These are supplied free of cost only to the
very poorest people. A charge is made to others, not exceeding the
cost price of the article.
Simple medicines are also prescribed and dispensed.

The Centre was opened in the latter part of 1914. One of the
Lady Health Visitors acts as the Nurse to the Centre.
SICK NURSERY.
At the Borough Centre is maintained a small Infant Sick Nursery.
Six cots are provided, and the children admitted are practically
entirely cases of ailing infants suffering from dietetic or marasmic
conditions The cots have been kept well filled throughout the whole
year, and the results practically regularly show beneficial changes in
the welfare of the infants admitted.
The Croydon Mothers and Infants Welfare Association
provides nine other centres in the town. The town provides the
nursing and medical staff for these centres. The work done
by the association has grown greatly and has maintained a high level
of efficiency. The co-operation between the Association and the
Public Health Department is of the closest and pleasantest nature.