London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
77
Illegitimate Children.
The births of 42 illegitimate children were registered. Two lived with both
their parents who had a permanent home together; four with their mothers who
worked to support them; three with their mothers who remained in their parents'
home; three were placed in an institution; two died in early infancy; one was stillborn;
four were adopted; 21 children could not be traced, the mother often not
having stayed at the address given for more than one or two nights before the
birth of the child.
The following is a summary of the work during 1935 at the Council's Dental Clinic, No. 10, John Street, open on Thursday afternoons for nursing or expectant mothers, and children under five years of age:—
| Women. | Children. | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of sessions held | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Number of new Patients | 26 | 31 | 57 |
| Total attendances | 210 | 63 | 273 |
| Extractions— | |||
| With local anaesthetic | 18 (23) | — | 18 (23) |
| With general anaesthetic | 25 (102) | 25 (84) | 50 (186) |
| Scaling | 23 | 2 | 25 |
| Fillings— | |||
| Simple | 60 | 8 | 68 |
| Root | — | — | — |
| Dentures (including repairs) | 25 | — | 25 |
| Advice | 50 | 32 | 82 |
The figures in brackets relate to the number of teeth extracted
In three cases where the patients were very poor the dentures were provided
free of charge; contributions towards the cost were required in all other cases and
in two instances the patients were required to pay the whole cost.
Supply of Milk and Food for Expectant and Nursing Mothers and for Infants.
The supply of milk and food at less than cost price was continued during the
year under the Maternity and Child Welfare Act, 1918, for nursing mothers,
expectant mothers in the last three months of pregnancy, children up to three
years of age and, exceptionally, to children between three and five years of age.
During the year 306 applicants received free or assisted milk under the scheme.
This number included 196 who were receiving such assistance at the end of 1934.
Grants were made to 110 new applicants.
At the end of the year 1935, 163 applicants were receiving assistance, viz.:—
| Mothers. | Children. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free milk | 73 | S3 | 156 |
| Half-price milk | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Prepared milk | — | 2 | 2 |
| 75 | 88 | 163 |