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deaths is prematurity. It would seem that the causes which give rise to
premature birth are closely associated with the causes of a number of
maternal deaths, and the most hopeful line of attacking these problems
is by close supervision at Ante-Natal Clinics and by attending to abnormal
conditions found.
Maternal Mortality.—The number of women dying in, or as a consequence
of, childbirth was 10, as against 8 last year, and as the number
of births was less than in 1928 the maternal death rate rose to 3.3, as
compared with 2.5.
Infectious Disease.—Apart from Smallpox and Chickenpox, infectious
disease during the year remained much the same as last year, there being,
however, an increase in the number of Scarlet Fever cases.
The 157 cases of Smallpox which occurred are referred to on pages
92-100. They wereallof a mild type and only 1 death occurred. Thiswas
of a premature child whose mother was suffering from Smallpox. I should
like to mention the measures we adopted were fairly successful in holding
the disease in check until the end of the year when "missed" cases who
attended social gatherings at Christmas time were the cause of a large
increase in the number of cases during the early days of 1930.
There were 1,084 cases of Chickenpox reported during the year, some
of them being much more severe than many of the cases of mild Smallpox
which occurred.
It was with very great regret that we heard of the death of Dr. W.
McConnell Wanklyn, the Smallpox Consultant of the London County
Council, who died at his office at the County Hall on 30th April, 1929.
Dr. Wanklyn was ever ready to visit Poplar at any time, and his
assistance was greatly appreciated by all members of the staff who came
in contact with him.
During the year Measles was less prevalent than in 1928, but the
number of cases of Whooping Cough increased and the death rate from
this disease rose from 0.12 per thousand of the population in 1928 to 0.27.
Of the 43 deaths from Whooping Cough 42 were of children under the age
of 5 years.