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parent, or is frightened by what an ignorant parent or other adult might say to it.
The young child is less able to appreciate the uncertainties of the future, and although
a personal shock might well have a lasting effect on even a very young child, its
shortness of outlook and its ease of adaptability probably prevent any lasting mental
injury in all but a very few cases.
The home for toddlers established at Mayfield in 1939 was continued during
1940, and has already proved its worth from the obvious increase in physical health
produced in the children as a result of their period of stay there. Two hundred and
six children were given the benefit of this stay in the country, with its consequent
supervision of dietary, etc., during the year, and this would have been increased but
for the occurrence of a few cases of infectious disease, which is always the bugbear of
residential homes for children.
The voluntary infant welfare centre at Herbert Grove, which covered a small
part of the west end of the borough, was taken over by the Borough Council in
April, 1940. The two nurses who had been employed there were taken on to the
Borough Council's staff. The clinics held were increased, thus allowing the temporary
premises at Hoxton Hall to be abandoned.
As a result of the autumn raids, a special scheme was put into operation by the
Ministry of Health for the evacuation of aged and infirm persons. In all, nearly 600
persons were evacuated under this scheme from Shoreditch, and although frequently
the difficulties attending their departure (blitzing of roads, railway termini, etc.)
were great, a personal gift from the Mayor and one or two other comforts for the
journey served to make their departure more bright. In addition they were provided
with a post card on which they could ask for articles such as boots, overcoats, etc.,
which they might particularly want. Miss Morrell was in charge of this work and
devoted a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to it. The money for the articles
supplied came from the Mayor's fund, and from the letters of thanks that were
received it was obvious that the gifts were greatly appreciated.
A problem which has been giving rise to much anxiety, especially during warmer
weather, is that of vermin in shelters and in houses generally. Steps were being
taken by the end of the year to deal with this matter by shelter spraying and disinfection,
and also by steam and hot-air disinfection of bedding, but the problem is
large and difficult, and no complacency is felt about the future.
With regard to infectious disease, tuberculosis gives cause for grave concern.
The number of cases has increased, and there is the additional danger of infection
from "open" cases in public shelters. There are many factors in the causation of
tuberculous infection, and the young adult woman appears to be especially susceptible.
The problem—a national as well as a local one—involves assault on all the possible
causal factors—malnutrition, anxiety, overstrain, insufficient leisure in the open air,
bad housing, and so on—but it would seem that preventing the open case coming
into close contact with other people should be a major, and immediate, goal. A table
illustrating the position is printed on page 8, but should not be taken as giving a
complete picture since other factors (e.g., age distribution of the population) are
not dealt with.
It will be noted from the statistics that the general death rate is considerably
higher than in the previous year, but a part of this increase is due to the number
of deaths in the category " Other violent causes,"which number 299.
In a year which was certainly not without its difficulties much depended on the
adaptability and co-operation of the health department staff. I need only say that
the difficulties were satisfactorily surmounted.