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opened at Highgate. It is hoped that when the financial position
is less difficult our valuable work among mothers and young
children may be extended.
Infant Mortality.—The object of maternity and child welfare
work is to reduce the amount of sickness and mortality among
mothers and young children, and, by safeguarding the health of
the little children, to do something towards improving the general
standard of health among the adult population in years to come.
The very low infant mortality rate of this year is therefore most
satisfactory, for it shows not only a small number of deaths
among young children, but infers also that there has been a
correspondingly small amount of sickness. Some statistical details
of the various morbid conditions discovered among babies,
and of the work done at the centres during the year under
review, is given in Table H., and the causes of the deaths of
young children are shown in Tables B. and J.
Milk (Mothers and Children) Orders.—After careful investigation
of cases, milk is allowed free or at half-price to pregnant
women and nursing mothers and to children under three years
of age. During the year 547 applications for milk were received,
and of these 473 were granted, the remainder being refused.
Milk from a dairy, or dried milk, is given according to the needs
of the case. Money to improve the public health cannot be
better spent than on milk for mothers and young children. An
ill-nourished baby never grows up into a healthy child, and the
money that we are expending to-day will prevent much sickness
and invalidism, with its consequent burden on the rates, in years
to come.
PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.
Staff.—There are five sanitary inspectors and four clerks in
the Medical Officer's department. A tabular statement of the
work done by the inspectors is shown in Tables D. and E.
The Medical Officer sees all letters and communications that
come to his office, and signs all outgoing correspondence, including
preliminary and other notices. During the year under review
7,638 letters have been sent out from his office.