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BACTERIOLOGICAL WORK.
The bacteriological work in connection with this District is carried
out by the Resident Medical Officer of the Wandle Valley Joint Isolation
Hospital.
The following numbers of specimens from this District were examined
there during the year:—
Swabs for Diphtheria 388
Sputa for Tubercle 58
INSECT PESTS.
There were no widely spread complaints with regard to insect pests
during the year, although annoyance caused in isolated instances by a
variety of insects required the attention of the Department.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
The Council is responsible for the Maternity and Child Welfare work
in this District, and in its endeavour to minimise the risks of childbirth,
and to secure the healthy development of all children born, or residing
in the area, the following measures are taken:—
Ante-Natal Clinics.
An Ante-Natal Clinic was established by the Council in 1931, the
first session being held on the 24th June in that year.
In 1932 the number of sessions had to be increased owing to the
great appreciation of this facility, while in 1933 Clinics were established
at Purley and Coulsdon. During the current year a further Clinic has
been established at Selsdon. Sessions are now being held from 2.30
to 4.0 p.m. at:—
(a) The Methodist Church, Brighton Road, Coulsdon, on the second and
fourth Monday in each month.
(b) The Methodist Church, Sylverdale Road, Purley, on the first and third
Wednesday in each month.
(c) The Baptist Church, Addington Road, Selsdon, on the second Wednesday
in each month.
It will be seen from the following tabular statement of attendances
that 187 new cases presented themselves during 1935, as compared with
143 in 1934, and 114 in 1933. This suggests that in approximately 35
per cent. of the births notified in the Urban District the mothers had
previously been examined under the Council's scheme, the corresponding
figures for 1934, 1933, and 1932, being 31, 27, and 23 per cent. respectively.
The majority attending are subsequently confined by midwives or
at the Purley Memorial Hospital, but a number are referred to the Clinic
by local Doctors for a second opinion, or for observation during the
early months of pregnancy, where this would not otherwise be
forthcoming.
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