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9
Ambulances.
Two motor' ambulances are maintained by the Corporation for attendance in the case of
casualties and for the removal of other patients to nursing homes and hospitals or between private
addresses.
As the calls, especially to casualties, continued to be numerous, the need for a second
ambulance became imperative and it was decided in February to purchase a 14 h.p. Talbot
ambulance at a cost of £696. This vehicle is constructed and fitted with all modern improvements
and is entirely satisfactory. In addition to the ordinary equipment, a Novox resuscitation
apparatus for the restoration of asphyxiated persons has been fitted.
After delivery of the Talbot, opportunity was taken to thoroughly overhaul the older
Austin ambulance, and the importance of having a reserve vehicle has been demonstrated on
many occasions. More than once during the year it has been necessary to turn out both vehicles
simultaneously in the case of severe casualties.

The casulaty calls amounted to 51.41 per cent. of the total calls during the year.
The ambulances are maintained and staffed by the Fire Brigade, and the condition in
which they are kept and the services rendered on all occasions have been entirely satisfactory.
Reciprocal: arrangements for the use of the ambulance service made with the adjoining
authorities have continued to be satisfactory, no difficulty or delay having been experienced.
Laboratory Facilities.
The bacteriological examination of specimens has for many years been carried out carefully
and well at a laboratory in London. On many occasions however, owing to the distance and to
postal delays, some inconvenience has arisen. It was decided therefore, to entrust this work
to Dr. D. S. Murray who is the Hon. Pathologist to the Royal Hospital, Richmond. The new
arrangement has proved satisfactory.
MATERNITY.
The total number of births which were notified as occurring in the borough during the
year was 668, of which 21 were still births. S births were not notified.
Of the notifications of births, 471 were made by midwives and 197 by doctors or parents.
Midwives were present therefore in 70.5 per cent. of the births, but it is possible that a medical
practitioner was also present at some of the cases notified by midwives.
Care of the expectant mother.
The Ante-Natal Clinic was held every fortnight during the year. The total attendances
of expectant mothers numbered 381 of which 123 were first attendances. Calculated on the
births which occurred in Twickenham, 19.3 per cent. of all women confined in Twickenham
attended the Ante-Natal Centre. This however, does not include the women who received
pre-natal observation elsewhere than at the Clinic. A large number of the confinements which
took place at nursing homes in Twickenham, were those of women who resided in other towns,
and it may be assumed that these had received the necessary pre-natal care in most instances.
It may also be assumed that all the cases attended at their own homes by medical
practitioners or midwives, received at any rate some pre-natal care and the same remark applies
to those confined in West Middlesex Hospital Maternity Block (103), and in special hospitals
in London (29).
Under the scheme by which assisted dental treatment is provided, 40 expectant mothers
received the necessary treatment, the total attendances.being 85.
In accordance with requests from the Public Assistance Authority, enquiries were made
into the home conditions of 20 expectant mothers living in Twickenham who had applied for
admission to the maternity block of the West Middlesex Hospital, and reports were furnished
to that authority.
Under the scheme for the supply of milk to necessitous expectant mothers, milk was
supplied in 4 cases.