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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 21 per 1,000 births, whereas
amongst non-clinic attendants it was 115 per 1,000 births. These figures are arrived at by knowing
that out of the 2,968 Willesden children born alive in 1938, 1,927 attended the Health Centres, of
whom 40 died, giving an infantile mortality rate amongst clinic attendants of 21 per 1,000 births.
1,041 children born in Willesden in 1938 did not attend the clinics and of this number 120 died before
reaching the age of one, thus giving an infantile mortality rate amongst non-clinic attendants of
115 per 1,000 births.
It should be noted that the infantile mortality rate of 21 amongst clinic attendants compares
with a rate of 25 in 1937, 24 in 1936 and 30 in 1935, and the infantile mortality rate of 115 amongst
non-clinic attendants compares with a rate of 145 in 1937, 120 in 1936 and 121 in 1935.
CANCER.
In Willesden in 1938 there were 332 deaths from cancer as compared with 281, 302, 266, 281,
260, 250, 250, 214 and 239 in each of the preceding nine 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
at the same hour. No treatment is given, the object being to get early contact, to secure diagnosis and
treatment if necessary, or to give reassurance. Treatment or diagnosis is obtained at certain of the
larger London hospitals with which the Council has made satisfactory arrangements.
If a patient is under a private doctor who can be located the latter is communicated with, and
the result of any consultation is made known to him as soon as possible.
Propaganda in the form of posters, leaflets, advertisements in the press and talks has been
continued.
During 1938, 47 patients attended the clinics, of whom 30 were new cases (8 men and 22 women),
and 17 had attended in 1937 or in previous years. The total attendances made during the year were 65.
Of the 30 new cases:
2 were found to reside without the district, and after being examined and suitably directed
as to the means of getting investigation or treatment, were dismissed.
11 were referred to a hospital for further investigation.
1 was referred to the Council's Skin Clinic, and was later reassured and discharged.
7 were referred back to their own doctors at home or at hospital.
8 were kept under observation and asked to attend again. By the end of the year 3 of
these were able to be discharged.
1 was reassured and discharged.