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13
Deaths of Illegitimate Infants. Of the 205 infants who died
before attaining the age of one year, 10 or 4.8 per cent. were illegitimate,
the mortality amongst them being in the proportion of 106 deaths per
1000 against 97 per 1000 among children born in wedlock.

PREVENTION OF INFANT MORTALITY.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE WORK.
Maternity and Child Welfare work has been actively pursued during
the year. By the appointment of a part-time Lady Medical Officer,
who commenced duty in January, the medical examination and reexamination
of every infant admitted to the Clinics is now possible.
These examinations are carried out on the lines suggested by the
Local Government Board in connection with the Maternity and Child
Welfare Act, 1918.
This Act widens the powers of local authorities and enables them
to make such arrangements as may be sanctioned by the Board for
attending to the health of expectant mothers and of nursing mothers
and of children under the age of 5 years.
The Act is administered by a Special Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee, which must include at least 2 women amongst its members.
The additional services for which the grant under the Act is
available include hospital treatment for children under 5 years of age,
lying-in homes, home helps, the provision of food for expectant
and nursing mothers and for children under five years of age, creches
and day nurseries, convalescent homes, homes for children of widowed
and deserted mothers and for illegitimate children and their mothers,
also for experimental work. A valuable item is that by which medical
and nursing aid can be provided for necessitous cases.