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either temporarily or permanently inadequate for them, i.e., because of the absence of the
mother through illness or from economic necessity. They are also of value as places for
education of the only child, and of mal-adjusted children. They are excellent training
places for young girls who feel drawn towards a career in nursing or child education, and,
as mentioned above, under the heading "Health Propaganda," the mothers come under
constant influence of persons trained in Child Care, and are taught from day to day many
things concerning health and hygiene, which otherwise they might not so easily learn.
During the year, affiliation with the National Society of Children's Nurseries was
confirmed after inspection by the Association's representative. This means that all persons
appointed as students in the nurseries are eligible to sit for the Nursery Nurses Diploma
offered by the Association for students over 17 years of age who have the standard of
training.
Five sat for the examination during the year and three passed.
By the courtesy of the Middlesex County Council, arrangements were made for
the X-ray examination of all day nursery staffs to prevent the possibility of concealed cases
of tuberculosis being at work amongst so many young children. I am glad to be able to
report that no cases of tuberculosis were discovered.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS AND OTHER
DISEASES.
In the early part of 1944 there was a considerable number of measles cases.
This epidemic was of a nation-wide character and the greatest number of cases
were developed in the industrial towns of the country. The disease, however, was of a
rnild type on the whole, as is evidenced by the pneumonia figures in the same table, which
were increased only by two for the figures for 1943, and there were no deaths recorded from
measles.
There were no epidemics of other diseases and the diphtheria notifications were
15 as compared with 26 in 1943. There were no deaths from diphtheria.
Provision of Antitoxin.
The Council provides antitoxin free to local medical practitioners for cases of
diphtheria in the district.
The Ministry of Health has also sanctioned the supply of tetanus antitoxin by the
Council to local practitioners if such is required.
Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin can always be obtained.at the Health Department
during office hours or at the Isolation Hospital at other times.
Following Ministry of Health Circular 2734, the Southall Borough Council resolved
that insulin should be supplied to cases not covered by other schemes, patients' income to
be assessed and insulin provided free or at part cost. Under this scheme 17 cases were
dealt with during 1944.
Vaccination.
The total number of successful vaccination certificates received during the year
was 353) and the number of certificates of exemption issued was 185.
Table XXII in Appendix gives details of the percentage of children successfully
vaccinated during the last seven years.
The proportion of vaccinated to unvaccinated infants is still much too low, i.e.,
38 to 61 per cent. unvaccinated. The danger of smallpox infection being brought into this
country becomes greater each year with the development of air transport and with the
return of troops from countries where this disease is still epidemic, and it is proposed to
increase the propaganda for vaccination by means of handbills to the mothers.
Disinfection.
In cases of infectious disease, rooms, clothing, etc., are disinfected—rooms by
sealing and fumigating with formalin or a formalin preparation; clothing, bedding, etc.,
and infected articles which can be removed for steam disinfection, by treatment in the
disinfector at the hospital.
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