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31
The association, through Mrs. Tyerman, has done excellent
work during the year, and cases referred to hostels have had their
cost of maintenance paid by the Borough Council in every case.
I believe that the increased care of the unmarried mother and
her child has resulted in there being no illegitimate infant death
during 1946.
There is still a need for further hostel accommodation, and
it is hoped that the Merton and Wimbledon Moral Welfare Association
will be able to re-establish their hostel in the near future.
Care of Premature Infants
Premature infants requiring hospital treatment are admitted
to the County Hospital.
For cases remaining in their own homes special draughtproof
cots heated by hot water bottles, blankets, clothes, special
feeding bottles, etc., may be borrowed free of cost at the request
of the doctor or midwife in charge of the case.
Home Helps are available when necessary.
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
WATER SUPPLY
Except for eight houses in Goat Road, supplied by the Sutton
Water Company, the whole of Mitcham is supplied by the
Metropolitan Water Board.
There are in addition eight licensed caravan yards, each containing
a stand pipe and supplying a total of 26 caravans.
The water has been of a consistently high standard of purity
and no case of infectious disease has been transmitted by water.
A large number of the houses in the Borough have no supply
of drinking water direct from the main, but are supplied from a
tank in the roof. Provided this tank is properly covered and is
cleansed regularly, it provides a satisfactory supply, but frequently
the covers are left off and the tanks become contaminated
with dead birds, mice, etc., drowned whilst obtaining water. All
the more modern houses are, however, supplied with one tap for
drinking purposes direct from the main supply.