View report page

6
where children over one year of age can be protected against diphtheria
free of charge. During the year some 1,268 children were
immunised against diphtheria at the Council's special diphtheria
immunisation clinic ; but it is to be regretted that a much larger
proportion of parents in the area do not avail themselves of the
facilities offered on behalf of their children.
The biennial epidemic of measles began in February and lasted
unt' l June. Measles is one of the most highly infectious and
dangerous of all infectious diseases, especially in the case of infants
and young children. Of 1,556 cases reported during the epidemic,
23 died.
Isolation Hospital.
The total number of patients admitted to Leyton Isolation
Hospital during the year was 419, of whom 232 were notified as
suffering from scarlet fever and 187 from diphtheria. In addition,
it was necessary to find accommodation in fever hospitals outside
the area for 8 Leyton residents suffering from scarlet fever and
17 suffering from diphtheria.
Maternity and Child Welfare.
Although there has been a marked fall in the birth rate during
recent years, there has been no corresponding decrease in the
number of children attending the Council's infant welfare centres.
During the year under review 969 infants under one year attended
the clinics for the first time. The total attendances during the
year were 16,220.
The number of deaths of infants under one year of age was 74,
an increase of 14 compared with the corresponding number of the
previous year. The infantile mortality rate was 52.07 ; the comparative
rate for London was 66, and for England and Wales 59.
For ante-natal supervision 430 expectant mothers made 1,158
attendances at the two municipal ante-natal clinics during the year.
In addition, 324 expectant mothers resident in Leyton attended
for ante-natal supervision at Queen Mary's Hospital prior to confinement
in that hospital under the Council's maternity and child
welfare scheme. Of 1,421 Leyton mothers who gave birth to
children during 1936, some 760 (53 per cent.) had their confinements
in residential institutions.