London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Two of the remaining six were premature babies less than
three days old, one was in another hospital, one refused admission, and two were found dead
in public places. A more positive benefit, perhaps, is shown by the fact that the Lady
Almoner of the Hospital was able to arrange for the convalescence of eight of the children
attending the Welfare Centre and five mothers.
The following is a tabulated statement of the work carried out by the Health Visiting Staff in the above connection :— MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE, 1936.
| Under 1 year | 819 1 | Total 2,244 attendances. |
| Over I year | 1,425/ | |
| Mothers attended during year | 132 | |
| left City „ „ | 38 | |
| No. Children becoming over 5 during year | 25 | |
| Under 1 year | 409 | |
| Over 1 to 5 years | 880 | |
| Ante-Natal | 359 | |
| Ophthalmia | 3 | |
| Deaths under 1 year | 8 | |
| Still Births | 3 | |
| Infant Life Protection | 0 | |
| L.C.C. Reports for schools | 0 | |
| Scabies | 0 | |
| Puerperal Pyrexia | 1 | |
MATERNAL MORTALITY.
The enquiries into maternal deaths, which the Ministry of Health has required to be
conducted, have not called for any particular organisation in my Department. With a small
City resident population, few deaths in this category are reported. Where such cases do
occur, investigations are conducted by me. No case was reported during 1936.
It may be of interest to note that, from 1900 to 1936 inclusive, only 17 maternal deaths
have occurred amongst City residents.
PROVISION OF DENTURES FOR MOTHERS AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS.
During 1935 it was felt that the Maternity and Child Welfare activities of the Corporation
were somewhat stultified by the fact that some of the City mothers in urgent need of
dental treatment were not in the position to meet the cost, and the Public Health Committee
decided to make free provision in such cases as the Medical Officer in charge thought necessary
and where the financial conditions justified it. Some contribution is obtained when
possible.
Two mothers were supplied with dentures in 1936.
PROVISION OF MILK FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
The Milk Act, 1934, authorised a scheme for the provision of milk for school children
and has as its object the increase in the demand for milk in schools by lowering the price
to scholars who are young children and young persons attending schools or courses for
unemployed boys or girls recognised for grant by the Board of Education.
The special price to these consumers is ½d. per J pint and the milk is supplied in ½-pint
bottles. Free milk is also provided in cases where children are unable to pay and where
necessity is certified by the Education Authority's Medical Officer.
A scheme for the detailed and administrative control has been put into operation and,
so far as London is concerned, it has been agreed that milk supplied under the scheme shall
be pasteurised milk and comply with the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923.
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