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is in hand for the borough population involving the use of a
small cleansing unit in the grounds of the Isolation Hospital.
In May of this year tihe Authority's new high pressure steam
disinfector was installed at the Isolation Hospital, and the
provision of this magnificent up to date machine fills a long-felt
want and will enable verminous conditions to be dealt with
completely and effectively.
I bring to your notice the satisfactory state of the register
recording the number of persons suffering from tuberculosis
in this Borough. The total number on the register is now 301,
a reduction of some 274 persons as compared with the previous
year, this big reduction in the total figures being a direct result
of a large scale enquiry which was made into all cases of tuberculosis
recorded as residing within the town.
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry to
provide accommodation for children of mothers who wish to
take up work of national importance a Nursery School was
opened in August at the Bedonwell Hill School. That the
nursery school is a popular venture is revealed by the attendance
figures which during 1941 showed an average monthly enrolment
of 52 children.
It is perhaps not inappropriate for me to mention in this
letter the municipal piggery housing some fifty pigs which has
been established in the grounds of the Isolation Hospital. As
an essential part of the Council's salvage of waste food service,
and apart from sundry small difficulties such as obtaining the
necessary meal rations, etc., the scheme on the whole has been
successful.
During this year the clerical branch of the Department
has suffered severely, for both the permanent male members
of the staff including the Chief Clerk have been called to H.M.
Forces. That clerical work can be efficiently performed by
temporary female replacement is undoubtedly true, but administrative
ability is surely another matter particularly in view of
the increasing duties assigned to Public Health Services.
In calling attention to the slightly increased infantile
mortality figure of 37.95, as compared with the figure of 59
for the country as a whole, mention may be made of the
Maternity and Child Welfare services in the town. The