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INFANTILE MORTALITY.
An examination of the deaths from all causes under one year
shows that the deaths under the headings of pneumonia and
premature birth are too high, and should be capable of being reduced.
It must be conceded that the conditions operating in the poorer
parts of the Borough tend towards the deaths from pneumonia
remaining at the present level, but much can be done, in addition
to improving the economic conditions of the family, by the counsel
of the health visitor in counteracting the ignorance of the mother
in feeding and clothing her infant, and generally improving the
resistive power of the child to attack, and by the assistance of
a trained nurse in the early stages of the disease. It is, however, a
much more difficult matter to grapple with the causes which lead
up to premature births, a question which is engaging the serious
attention of those who seek the prevention of infant deaths.
A more systematic supervision of the mother during pregnancy
is necessary, and I am not without hope of seeing a reflection of
the work of ante-natal supervision resulting in a gradual decline
in the number of deaths from this cause in the future.
On the other hand, it is gratifying to report that the total
deaths for the year from diarrhœa and enteritis numbered 31 only,
as against 85 for the previous year. That the work of the health
visitors is an important factor in the low mortality from this cause
cannot be questioned. The advice given to the mother at the Centre,
together with lectures on matters of feeding, personal and domestic
hygiene, supported by visits to the home to obtain information
with regard to the health of the infants, results in preventing this
disease in a large number of cases. For, after all, the question of
diarrhcea prevention becomes largely a matter of education in
precautions, and for this purpose a leaflet is issued to every mother
attending the Municipal Centres, and a copy is also left at each
house in the area of the Centres where a birth takes place.
It is interesting to note that during the summer period there
was only one death in the Hollington Street area (No. 1 Ward).
For the period July to October inclusive only 5 deaths were recorded
in the whole Borough.
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES.
Small-pox.
There were no cases of small-pox notified during the year,
although there was an outbreak in London. A large number of
known contacts were kept under observation, but fortunately none
of these developed the disease.
Owing to the fear of any case being missed in which there was
a doubt as to the diagnosis, the Council decided to make chickenpox
notifiable temporarily. The Medical Officer of Health is always
available for consultation for any doubtful case, and Dr. Wanklyn,