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7
The death rate of infants under one year of age per thousand
live births (i.e., infantile mortality rate) was 50.70, comparing with
the previous year's rate of 53.42 and the rate of 64 for England and
Wales.
At the Maternity and Child Welfare Authority's Infant Welfare
Clinics the total attendances were 16,316; the number of children
examined by the Clinic Medical Officers was 7,228; and 17,467 visits
to homes were made by the Health Visitors.
With regard to ante-natal supervision, 406 expectant mothers
attended the Council's Ante-natal Clinics, making 958 attendances.
In addition, 352 expectant mothers attended for ante-natal supervision
at Queen Mary's Hospital. During the year some 327
Leyton mothers occupied maternity beds in the Margaret Lyle
Wards, Queen Mary's Hospital, and 360 had their confinements
in other hospitals. Of 1,499 Leyton women who gave birth to
children during 1933, some 687 (45 per cent.) had their confinements
in residential institutions.
Sanitary Circumstances.
In accordance with the provisions of the Housing Act, 1930,
the Local Sanitary Authority—acting on official representations
made by the Medical Officer of Health—has dealt with the demolition
and clearance of existing slums in the area. One area, comprising
12 houses inhabited by 58 persons, was declared a "clearance
area" during 1932. During 1933 the houses were demolished and
the site was cleared. Two areas were dealt with as comprising
"individual unfit houses" and demolition orders were made by
the Council. These two areas comprised 21 houses inhabited by 96
persons, and by the end of the year both areas had been cleared of
houses unfit for human habitation. On pages 71 and 73 will be
found photographs of these three areas showing the conditions
obtaining prior to demolition.
During the year the Local Authority has continued to deal
with individual cases of overcrowding in the area. Fifty-four
cases of overcrowding were reported to the Public Health Committee.
In 27 cases the overcrowding was abated as the result of informal
or statutory action. In three of these cases proceedings wore
instituted, and in each case the Court made an order requiring the
tenants to abate the nuisance.