View report page

48
and a half years of age, asphyxiation, swallowed raw meat
two inches long.
Although propaganda has been disseminated for years
with regard to diphtheria immunisation, there are still
families who have been missed and say they have never
heard of it. In this area in 1937 there were five cases of
diphtheria, and one child of seven years died. In the last
eight years, four apparently healthy children, ages: 11, 8,
11 and 7 years, have died in this area—all preventable
deaths.
Seventy visits to tubercular patients were paid last
year and were appreciated. It is most regrettable,
and certainly not progressive, to separate the home
visits to the tuberculosis case from the visits to the
mother, baby and school child. A good health visitor
is taught to enter a house when asked in, and to
deal with everyone in that house from a public health
point of view. The recent decision of the County
Council to appoint their own Dispensary Nurse has, with
regard to the visitation of tuberculosis cases, had the effect
of disturbing the co-ordination scheme of the Medical
Officer of Health which provided that one health visitor
should enter the house and deal with everyone and be a
friend of the family. At the present time this area does
not appear to have a tuberculosis visitor, and, therefore,
cases both old and new continue to come to the health
visitor for advice and information.
Six talks were given on the new Municipal Midwifery
Service to women's organisations; great interest was shown
at all the meetings, and open discussions were held.
There are now six home helps in Downham, all have
been visited and recommended by the Health Visitor.
Of overcrowding there is little or none—no family in
one room and very few in two rooms. Most of the population
is living in 5, 4 and 3 room houses, possessing adequate
lavatory, bathroom and pantry accommodation, and also
small garden.
The area is an interesting one to work in ; there is so
much to be done; the people are lively and appreciative:
the district is healthy, and the housing good,"