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Dental treatment for children under 5 years of age was given to 31 children. This consisted
almost entirely of extractions of carious teeth, which were carried out under "gas" anaesthesia
in all cases.
Infant Life Protection.
The Health Visitors are also appointed as infant life protection visitors under the Children
Act, 1908. The details as to registration during 1933 were as follows :—
Number of foster children on register at beginning of year 73
Number removed from register 57
Number registered for first time during year 42
Number on register at end of 1933 58
Deaths of foster children 1
Failure to give notice of reception of nurse children was detected in three instances
and warnings sent. Proceedings were taken against one foster mother who had moved from
the Borough taking two foster children with her without having given notice of removal. She
was traced to a neighbouring district and, on proceedings being taken a penalty was not inflicted,
but the foster mother was ordered to pay 20/- as costs.
At the commencement of the year it was noted that two advertisements offering to receive
infants for reward appeared in a local paper without giving the name and address of the person
offering to receive the children. These persons were traced with the assistance of the editor
of the newspaper concerned, and both expressed their ignorance of the provision of the Act.
No further action was taken, and an assurance was received from the newspaper that such
advertisements would not appear again.
Prevention of Deafness.
On receipt of circular 1337a from the Minister of Health, in which attention was drawn
to the serious results arising from deafness in young children and emphasising the necessity for
early treatment of ear disease in infants, a report was submitted on the subject. In this it was
pointed out that the number of cases of ear disease in infants would not justify the establishment
of a special ear clinic, but that if these cases in infants could attend at an ear disease clinic at
the same time as those children of school age for whom special opinion and treatment were also
required, there would be sufficient material to occupy the attention of an aurist during one
session each month.
It was decided to approach the Education Committee with a view to the establishment
of a joint clinic, and this arrangement had just been completed at the end of the year.
Orthopaedic treatment.
No child was dealt with under the scheme for the treatment of crippling defects in children
under school age, during the year. Such cases as arose appear to have received treatment
at hospitals either locally or in London.
SECTION C.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA.
There was no important change in the water supply of the district. The few wells which
remained are gradually disappearing and all the new houses erected receive their supply from
that of the Metropolitan Water Board.
The cesspools which still remain on the Heathfield Farm Estate were emptied at regular
intervals by the employees of the Corporation, but it is anticipated that before long all cesspools
will be replaced by connection with sewers.
The collection of house refuse is carried out weekly under the direction of the Borough
Engineer and Surveyor, from whose reports it appears that 8,380 tons of refuse were collected
and disposed of in the destructor.
A number of complaints were received during the year indicating that annoyance was
caused to the occupiers of flats over business premises, arising from the burning of paper and
similar articles of trade refuse by shop keepers in the yards behind their shops. The smoke
and particles arising from this method of destruction of the refuse, however carefully carried out,
are bound to cause annoyance to those living above. It is regrettable that no more satisfactory
way of dealing with this refuse appears to be practicable at present, for there can be no doubt
that many householders have a real grievance in the matter.