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12
made in establishing- a scheme of protection against gas
injuries.
The vital statistics of the year show a Death Kate of
9.4 (12.1), a Birth Bate of 13.5 (14.8) and an Infantile
Mortality Rate of 37 (59), the figures in parenthesis being
the corresponding rates for England and Wales.
Maternal mortality, upon which I have reported more
fully in the body of this Report, has been a subject to
which the Ministry of Health and Parliament gave much
attention during 1936, and the enactment of the
Midwives Act during the year has placed upon the Local
Authority the responsibility of providing an adequate
salaried service of midwives for domiciliary care of the
mother. Three Bromley mothers died in childbirth in
1936.
The medical services of Maternity and Child Welfare
and of the Schools are being increasingly used by the
public, and this being so there is no apparent need to
undertake propaganda directing attention to these services;
health education is better given individually than by
widespread propaganda.
Infectious diseases still claim their victims, although
the year under review showed a diminution in the incidence
of Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria. Measles and Whooping
Cough are still returning a high morbidity rate and call
for the establishment of Home Nursing Service during
the time of epidemics.
I would like to express to the Committees my
appreciation of their help and advice to me at all times,
and to the Staff for their continuous interest in their
multiple duties to promote the health and wellbeing of
the people of Bromley.
I am,
Mr. Mayor, Madam and Gentlemen,
Your Obedient Servant,
K. E, TAPPER,
Medical Officer of Health.