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Actually few children under the age of one should lose their lives. I say this because of the
fact that the infantile mortality rate amongst clinic attendants was only 24 per 1,000 births, whereas
amongst non-clinic attendants it was 120 per 1,000 births. These figures are arrived at by knowing
that out of the 2,835 children born alive in Willesden in 1936, 1,781 attended the Health Centres, of
whom 43 died, giving an infantile mortality rate amongst clinic attendants of 24 per 1,000 births.
1,054 children born in Willesden in 1936 did not attend the clinics and of this number 127 died before
reaching the age of one, thus giving an infantile mortality rate amongst non-clinic attendants of
120 per 1,000 births.
It should be noted that the infantile mortality rate of 24 amongst clinic attendants compares
with a rate of 30 last year and the infantile mortality rate of 120 amongst non-clinic attendants
compares with a rate of 121 last year.
CANCER.
In Willesden in 1936 there were 302 deaths from Cancer, as compared with 266, 281, 260, 250,
250, 214, 239, in each of the previous seven years.
Two Cancer Clinics are held : one at Health Centre (1) on the first and third Thursdays of the
month from 7 to 8 p.m., and the other at Health Centre (2), on the second and fourth Thursdays of
the month at the same hour. No treatment is attempted, the object being to get early contact, to
secure diagnosis and treatment if necessary, or to give reassurance as the case may be. Treatment
or further diagnosis is obtained at certain of the larger London Hospitals with which the Council has
made satisfactory working arrangements.
If a patient is under a private doctor who can be located, the latter is communicated with, and
the result of any examination or advice as to treatment is made known to him as soon as possible.
Propaganda in the form of posters, leaflets, advertisements, articles in the press and talks have
been continued.
During 1936, 74 patients attended the Clinics, of whom 56 were new cases (12 men and
44 women) and 18 had attended during 1935 or previously.
The total attendances made during 1936 were 119. Of the 56 new cases, 6 were found to reside
out of the district and were dismissed after being examined and suitably directed as to the means of
securing proper investigation and treatment.
The remaining 50 cases after examination were disposed of as follows :—
26 were referred to a hospital for further investigation ;
7 were referred back to their own doctors ;
13 were kept under observation and asked to re-attend (10 of these were finally
discharged before the end of the year).
1 was referred to a special clinic ;
3 were reassured and discharged on their first visit.