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56
DIARRHOEA AND EPIDEMIC ENTERITIS.
Deaths classified in the tables supplied by the RegistrarGeneral
as diarrhoea, epidemic enteritis, enteritis and gastroenteritis,
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 1919 diarrhoea and epidemic enteritis accounted for 10
deaths of infants under one year of age, 11 others being due to
enteritis or gastro-enteritis, making a total of 21 deaths from
" diarrhœal " diseases. A further 3 deaths at ages from one year
and 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 and Sick Nursery. The Infant Centre work consists of two
medical consultations weekly on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
At the medical consultations there have been during the year 1919
approximately thirty-seven 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. Expectant mothers
are also seen and advised as to their welfare.
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 total number of infants seen at this Centre in the year
1919 has been:—
New Cases 434
Total Attendances 3915
The Centre was opened in the latter part of 1914. One of the
Lady Health Visitors acts as the Nurse to the Centre.
The Croydon Mothers and Infants Welfare Association runs
nine other centres in the town. The Association provides the
premises and the voluntary workers who assist very greatly at the
meeting of the centres. The town provides the nursing and
medical staff for these centres. The work done by the association
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.