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64
from conditions which might easily have proved fatal had
there been any neglect or delay in obtaining advice and
treatment.
It is, therefore, perhaps fair to assume from the above
statements that the following factors will help to lower this
Mortality figure:—
(1) The fulfilment of the Council's endeavour to
obtain more houses which will not only improve the living
conditions of the artizan class, but will also enable certain
other classes of the community to get homes of their own,
the scarcity of which is undoubtedly adversely affecting the
birth-rate.
(2) The further extension of the Ante-Natal and
Maternity and Child Welfare movements.
(3) Increased Health Visiting.—In 1921, the Health
Visitors were reduced from two with whole-time appointments
to three with half-time appointments (the other halftime
being devoted to School work). An endeavour is being
made by re-arranging the work to enable more time to be
given to Health Visiting.
Diseases among Infants and Young Children—
(a) Ophthalmia Neonatorum.—Two cases of this disease
were notified. The Health Visitors visited the homes in both
cases, and the Table included with the Infectious Disease
Tables on page 50, shews that both patients recovered
without impairment of vision.
(b) An epidemic of Measles occurred in the autumn
months, and Chicken-pox caused a certain amount of illness
throughout the year, while Whooping Cough was responsible
for the death of one infant under one year of age.
The Health Visitors visit the homes of sick children as
and when required. These visits appear in the undermentioned
Summary as " Special Visits for Medical Officer."
Births notified during the year—
Males 346
Females 316
Total 662