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102
inevitably result in the discovery of further registrable conditions.
Congenital malformations are notified to the department and
summaries are forwarded to the Ministry of Health in accordance
with the scheme introduced on 1st January, 1964. Obviously the
success of the scheme is dependent upon the support given by the
doctors, hospital staffs and midwives and also upon the accuracy
with which they solve the difficulties of diagnosis of malformations
presenting proximal to parturition. Because only those malformations
detected at birth are reported under the scheme, constant
vigilance must be maintained in subsequent examinations in order
that those congenital conditions which produce signs and symptoms
only after the early weeks of life are duly recorded.
The following tables give information regarding malformations
notified to the department during 1966 compared with those returned
for England and Wales in 1965.

NOTE:—This table indicates the number of malformations NOT the number of
children.