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11
There was a great reduction in the illegitimate birth-rate
—39 per 1,000 births, compared with 58 in 1919 and 57 in 1918.
The total number of illegitimate births was higher than that of
1918, and only 4 lower than that of 1919.
During the year 1,356 live births were notified and 35 still
births. 112 births were registered in the district, but not notified.
58 live births and 1 still birth belonging to the district
were notified by outside authorities.
The Ward distribution is given on Table No. 3.
Cinemas.
There are two Cinema Houses in the district, and a third
is in course of erection.
During the year a circular was received from the Ministry
of Health dealing with the lavatory and closet accommodation
in picture theatres. In both cinemas the closet accommodation
was considered insufficient, and as a result of the inspection and
report, additional accommodation is being provided.
The sanitary accommodation in cinemas is only a minor
part of the question compared with the want of means of ventilation
and lack of arrangements to prevent harm to the eyesight
of children. In view of the undoubted fact that cinema hcvses
play an important part in the spread of infectious diseases, regulations
should be adopted with respect to the ventilation of and
sanitary accommodation. The subject is complicated in Acton
by the fact that the Council is not the licensing authority, and
the only power it possesses is in respect of any new buildings
which may be erected or adapted. The inlets for fresh air are usually
insufficient, and where outlets for foul air are provided, they are
insufficient and not always in working order. The unsatisfactory
state of the atmosphere in some cinemas is indicated by the analyses
which have been made in some towns, where as much as 40 to 50
volumes per 10,000 of carbon acid gas are found, compared with
4 in the outside air.
Many authorities have also drawn attention to the increasing
prevalence of defective vision amongst children. In Eastbourne,
regulations are made whereby the seats for children are placed
in a line with the centre of the screen at a distance of thrice its
full height.
Sanitary Inspection of the District.
At the end of the Report will be found a Table giving a
classified statement of the premises visisted, the number and nature
of the inspections, etc.