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the baby in the incubator in the ambulance, but with the baby
in utero in the ambulance. To effect this, which must surely
be the optimum arrangement, premature labour must be
generally recognised to be an indication for immediate
hospitalisation when parturition is inevitable. This seems to a
large extent to be a matter for educational propaganda.
It will be seen from the tabulated statement given above
that, of 8 notified births occurring at home, only 2 lived one
month or a death rate of 75 per cent., whereas of those
occurring in hospital 5 out of 19 did not live one month, a
death rate of 26 per cent.
Premature Deaths. Of the 29 neo-natal deaths recorded
it is interesting to note that 14 were attributed to Prematurity.
The following table shows the place of birth, the period of
survival and, where available, the birth weight of the babies.
In 5 cases where the birth weight is not available the infants
were born in institutions outside the district. Of the 14 deaths
recorded from Prematurity 13 occurred in hospital and one
at home.

SECTION B.—HEALTH SERVICES.
Nursing in the Home. Three voluntary associations
provide nursing facilities in the District. The Council makes
an annual contribution to the funds of each and arrangements
have been agreed for nursing assistance to be available for
cases referred through the Council's Health Services.
(1) The Merton Parish Nurse Fund employs one nurse
for general nursing; no midwifery or maternity nursing is
undertaken. The district served is approximately the
ecclesiastical parish of St. Mary's. A total of 180 cases involving
1,440 visits were attended during the year and of these
15 cases were children under 5 years of age, to whom 66 visits
were made.
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