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The increase in .tuberculosis incidence and mortality which
appeared in 1940 has not been maintained and the notifications
and deaths were less than in 1942 and 1941.
The prevalence of scabies continued, but as compared with
1942 a larger proportion of those affected completed treatment
and fewer cases relapsed. Greater advantage is being taken of
the facilities provided for treatment and treatment is being
sought at an earlier stage in the disease than was the case in
1942.
Attention has also been given to the problem of infestation
by head-lice. Regular examinations of school children are
carried out, but no such scheme is applied to the rest of the
population. Medical Officers and health visitors utilise the
opportunities provided by clinics and home-visits to press the
importance of personal cleanliness especially in families where the
school records indicate the need for such advocacy. Contact has
been maintained with factory nurses and assistance and advice
given to combat infestation by head-lice. Here, gross infestation
has been encountered, in adolescent and adult women more
frequently than in children under school age.
The provision of wartime day nurseries was extended by the
opening of Blenheim House Nurrery with accommodation for 50
children on the 9th August, 1943, and Heston Nursery, with the
same accommodation, on the 15th November, 1^43. Nursery
accommodation is now available for 189 children and there is always
a waiting list of applicants for admission. The nurseries have
been free of serious illness or epidemic among the children.
Shortage of and illness among domestic and nursing staff have
placed a heavy strain on this service and there are no indications
that further staff will be readily available. Dr. Roberts
analysed the records of N^ntly House for a period of 80 .veeks
from its opening and found that the average attendance of the
children was 75 per cent., that of the 9G children who left 39
per cent, had been in attendance for less that six weeks and
that only 3 of the original entrants were still in the nursery
at the end of the period.
Throughout the year full use has been made of the infant
welfare, ante-natal clinics and dental clinics, and the total
attendances at each shows an increase on 1942. Strenuous
efforts have been made to extend our home-help service. The
demand for the serv'ce has increased, but the shortage of suitable
women for employment on this work and the uncertainty of the
dates on which they will be needed make the administration of
this service peculiarly difficult. The quantity of dried milk
and vitamin preparations issued at clinics continues to increase.
An increase is also recorded in the number of meals supplied, at
school canteens and municipal restaurants.
For a considerable pert of 1943 the municipal domiciliary
midwifery service was severely handicapped by reason of illness
among the midwives. To provide the off-duty recommended in.
the report of the Midwives Salaries Committee and to meet any
increased demand resulting from the rise in the birth rate the
staff of municipal midwives has been increased from eight to
ten. Of the 1,600 live and still births among residents of
the Borough 580 occurred in private houses.

3.