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During 1923, the "Daily News" offered a prize to the
district showing the greatest reduction in male infantile mortality
rate. Though Wimbledon did not gain mention, the
figures showed a drop from 93.5 per thousand to 69.8 per
thousand, which lis gratifying, as the first year was low comparatively
with other areas to start with.
Welfare Centres.
As it is sometimes stated that Municipal Welfare Centres
are taken advantage of by people who are in a position to pay
private doctors, a full investigation of the social conditions of
those attending the Wimbledon Welfare Centres was made from
records of the last two years. The following interesting facts
were shown:—60 percent. of the mothers come from what
might be termed ''Average'' Clinic attenders, 28 percent. were
"below the average" and 12 percent. were "above average."
Of those who were classed as "above average" only 25
percent. took advantage of the cheap milk sold at the Clinics
and in every one of these cases there were large numbers in the
family so that economy was absolutely necessary. Of the
remaining 75 per cent. (i.e. dealing only with those for whom
it could not be stated that the "cheap milk" was the attraction),
it was found that they fell naturally into two categories,
(a) young mothers who were keen on instruction and attended
the classes regularly, and (b) other mothers whose children
were not thriving and who attended their family doctor
regularly, but who apparently came to the centres occasionally
to get confirmation of opinion.
Taking all mothers who attended, it was found that 50 percent.
attended occasionally, and a very small proportion only
attended once.
These figures are extremely gratifying, showing, without
doubt, that the Centres are not being exploited. At the other
end of the social scale it is found that the Wimbledon experience
coincides with that in other areas—50 percent. only of
the very poorest families attend the Centres. These cases are
of course, visited in their own homes and tactful inquiries as
to reasons for not visiting the Centres have elicited a variety
of excuses. These may be grouped into three classes:—
1. A small class where the father objects to the wives
mixing, or where there is interference with the
husband's meal hours.
2. A slightly larger class where the young mothers live
with their mothers or mothers-in-law, and the latter
does not agree with the " new-fangled ideas."
3. The largest class where the mothers do not like mixing
with their neighbours, who object to the undressing
of their children from reasons of pride or because
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