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milk and 8l pints of liquid milk were supplied tree of cost
during 1941.
DENTAL TREATMENT.
The scheme for the dental treatment of ante-natal and
nursing mothers and children under 5 years of age was
continued and during the year 85 cases were treated, as compared
with 67 in 1940 and 90 in 1958.
DAY NURSERIES.
During the second half of the year a considerable amount
of attention was focussed on the question of Day Nurseries
owing to the Government's need for more accommodation for the
children of working mothers throughout the Country and their
encouraging the establishment of additional Nurseries where
required by meeting the full cost of their provision and
maintenance. From the point of view of providing rapidly for
the needs of such mothers it was fortunate that two voluntary
Nurseries already existed in the Urban District, each being
assisted financially by the Council to the extent of £250 per
annum. On the other hand the Council was not so fully
recompensed as it would have been had it had to establish
completely new Nurseries.
The attendance at both the Voluntary Nurseries had
shrunk to very small dimensions during the period of sustained
air attack, but as the latter diminished so the attendance
increased, a waiting list resulting in both Coulsdon and Purley.
Consideration was given to the possibility of enlarging the
existing Nurseries the Council possibly assuming complete
responsibility for each. It was eventually decided, however,
at the end of the year not to disturb these Nurseries but to
proceed with the provision of a War-tine Nursery situated
centrally, a house in Purley being acquired for this purpose.
During 1941 the total attendance at the two voluntary
nurseries was 10,374 compared with 13,044 in 1938.
CHILD LIFE PROTECTION.
During the year 16 Foster Mothers were under
supervision and 28 children distributed amongst them. This
represented 8 fewer foster mothers and 13 fewer children than
in 1940.
SANITARY CONDITIONS.
HOUSING.
The total number of houses inspected during 1941, under
the Public Health or Housing Acts, was 467, the number of
inspections for this purpose being 517. Four houses were found
in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit
for human habitation, in addition to 360 houses not in all
respects reasonably fit for human habitation. As a result of
informal action 249 houses were rendered fit. Proceedings
under Sections 9, 10 and 16 cf the Housing Act, 1936, led to the
serving of 7 notices, following which action 6 were rendered fit
by the owners, while 44 notices were Served under the Public
Health Act, 58 houses being rendered fit by the owners after
the service of such notices during the year.
Six new cases of overcrowding were reported during the
year but a similar number were relieved, 52 persons being concerned.
At the end of the year 3 dwellings remained overcrowded,
4 families and 24 persons being involved. One case
occurred in which a dwelling house again became overcrowded after
the Local Authority had taken steps for the abatement of
overcrowding owing to the occupants taking lodgers.