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patients amounted to £1 17s. Six mothers were sent to Homes, apart
from the Council's scheme. The average duration of stay in the Homes
is 2 weeks.
Supply of Milk at less than Cost Price.
There has been no alteration in the scheme approved by the Minister
of Health since 1921. Necessitous cases only may be supplied, namely
(a.) nursing mothers who are actually nursing their children; (b.) expectant
mothers in the last 3 months of pregnancy; and (c.) children
up to 3 years of age. Children between 3 and 5 may be supplied on the
production of medical certificates. The amount of milk permitted under
the scheme is one pint per day per person, but infants between 3 and
18 months may receive 1½ pints on production of medical certificates.
During 1923, 72.5 per cent. of the milk granted at less than cost
price was Dried Milk, and 27.5 per cent. was Cows' Milk from retail
dairies.
During 1923, the number of applications for milk, including renewals,
granted by the Sub-Committee were as follows: — 1st quarter, 607;
2nd quarter, 589; 3rd quarter, 463; 4th quarter, 551; total for the
year, 2,210, as against 1,880 in 1922. The approximate total cost for
the year was £421, namely, 1st quarter, £130; 2nd quarter, £96; 3rd
quarter, £82; and 4th quarter, £113. In 1922, the total sum expended
was £429, in 1921, £990, in 1920, £1,515, and in 1919, £342. The Borough
Council receives a grant from the Ministry of Health of half the cost
incurred.
Chelsea Branch of the Invalid Children's Aid Association.
Report of work done in 1923 in respect of children under 5 years.
During 1923, 113 children under 5 years of age were referred to the
Branch for assistance or friendly visiting and advice. Of this number
56 children were sent by the Branch for periods varying from 6 weeks
to 6 months or longer, to Convalescent Homes in the country or at the
sea-side, or were placed with good foster-mothers under careful supervision
in healthy country surroundings.
Twenty-four children, whose parents were out of work, were given
at the request of the Chelsea Health Society medical comforts, e.g., tonic
medicines, cod-liver oil and malt, vitoleum cream, etc. Eight children
were provided with surgical boots and other surgical appliances. Hospital
letters were given and treatment arranged for many of the children.
Railway fares and escorts were provided, and warm clothing given to
many children going into the country.
The total amount directly spent on these children under 5 years
by the Branch during the year, 1923, was £354 18s. 11d., towards which
the parents of the children contributed £98 19s., leaving a balance to
be raised by the Branch of £255 19s. 11d.
Deaths and Death-Rate.
There were 788 deaths of Chelsea residents in 1923, as compared
with 853 in 1922. The death-rate for the year was 12.2 per 1,000,
as against 13.3 in 1922. In London the death-rate for 1923 was 11.2,
and in England and Wales 11.6.