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and as such was referred to in the debates in both Houses of Parliament as exemplifying
the main purposes which it is hoped to achieve for other districts in the Midwives
Bill. Among other developments in this service since the end of 1935 are the
separate appointments of medical officers for women and for children at the welfare
clinics. The appointment of these part-time specialists should provide greater
opportunities for detailed study in these two main branches of this service. Prematurity,
the principal cause of death among infants, merits special inquiry. The
subject of nutrition has been much under public notice. With a view to instructing
the mothers of the district the Council has instituted special courses in cooking,
food values and food buying under a qualified teacher. These classes are held at
four of the Welfare Centres and should prove of definite educative value. To all
cases receiving free or half-price milk grants, the Council has also granted free issues
of cod liver oil preparations when advised by its medical officers.
Fewer infants were afflicted with ophthalmia and none died from venereal
disease.
Plans of Sanitary Work.
The number submitted has reached a new record, 1,080. The building of flats
and business buildings shews no sign of diminishing. In Westminster many of the
new buildings exceed 2,000,000 feet cube. The study of plans and supervision of
the work when in progress is therefore making serious demands on the time of the
inspectors. The Town Planning provisions of the Act of 1932 has thrown additional
duties on the Council. A special Sub-Committee sits almost weekly to report its
observations to the London County Council. As points relating to sanitary conveniences,
ventilation and the use of underground rooms are frequent matters for
comment, the Senior Sanitary Inspector, Mr. John Sanderson, attends fcr the
purpose of advising on these points.
Atmospheric Pollution.
Four methods of investigation are in operation, namely (1) impurities deposited
or washed out of the air by rain, (2) impurities in suspension, (3) amount of sulphur
gas content in the air, (4) effect of sulphur gas on exposed fabrics. The last named
method to measure the destructive properties of sulphur gas was installed in March
of last year.
While there is some evidence showing a reduction in suspended impurities during
1935 as compared with the previous two years no general statement regarding a
higher degree of atmospheric purity can yet be made. A careful analysis of the
results of the other lines of investigation must be made, paying regard to wind,
rainfall and other factors.
Food and Drugs.
The section in this report has been extended as compared with that of last year.
Adulteration, especially of imported tinned foods, is discussed in some detail, particularly
as regards metallic contamination. As noted last year the proportion of
milk samples of high cream content, i.e., 3.8 per cent, and over, is relatively low
(25 per csnt. of samples) as compared with 50.4 per cent, ten years ago. The percentage
of those below standard (3 per cent.) is, however, lower namely, .7 per oent.
Housing.
The reports of the two surveys, the detailed housing survey under the Act of
1930 and the overcrowding survey under the Act of 1935, are summarized. The
former took over two years to complete; the latter because of the ground already