[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]

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MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CENTRES.

Name.		Length of Service.

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SECTION A. STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.

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Industry. There were 194 factories registered under the Factory Act at the end of the year, as follows:—

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The monthly recordings are as shown below:— RAINFALL, 1948.

MONTH	JOSEPH HOOD RECREATION GROUND			WEST BARNES PUMPING STATION
MONTH	Inches	Days with o.oiin. or more	Days with 0.04in. or more	Inches	Days with o.oiin. or more	Days with 0.04in. or more

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The following table sets out over the past five years the local infant mortality rate as compared with that for England and Wales: —

	England and Wales	Merton and Morden

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TABLE I. COMPARATIVE STATISTICS, 1948. (Registrar General's Figures with Corresponding Figures for Merton and Morden added).

	England and Wales	126 County Boro's and Great Towns including London	148 Smaller Towns (Residential Populations 25,000 to 50,000 at Census)	London Administrative County	Merton and Morden

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The following table gives an indication of the trend over the past twelve years —

Year	No. illegimate live births	Rate per thousand live births

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TABLE II Showing Births and Deaths with Rates since the Amalgamation of Merton with Morden.

Year	Estimated population	Total Births	Birth Rate	Total Deaths	Death Rate	Natural Increase

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Inquests. Inquests were held on 15 deaths occurring in the district, 9 of which were in respect of residents. The verdicts returned were as follows:—

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CANCER DEATH RATE. No. of deaths from Cancer for past 10 years.

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TABLE III. Deaths from Respiratory Diseases, 1928-1948.

Year	Bronchitis	Pneumonia	Other Respiratory Diseases	Total	Death Rate

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TABLE IV. Causes of Death during the year 1948.

No.	Cause of Death	Males	Females	Total

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TABLE V. Maternal Mortality, 1928-1948. With Comparable Rates for England and Wales.

Year	Death rate per thousand total births.
	Sepsis		Other causes		Total
	Merton and Morden	England and Wales	Merton and Morden	England and Wales	Merton and Morden	England and Wales

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Infant Deaths — With causes of death.

Sex.	Age.	Cause of Death.

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Continued from previous page...

Sex.	Age.	Cause of Death.

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The total number of premature babies notified during the year were as follows, born:—

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The figures relating to cases and visits n this district during the year are as follows: —

	Cases	Visits

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The scope of the pathological work undertaken during the period from 1st January to 4th July, 1948, is as follows: —

Examinations	No. performed	Positive result

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The following table shows the scope of the work undertaken by the ambulance service of the district from the beginning of the year until 4th July, 1948:— AMBULANCE CALLS. (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

Month	Calls received from public	Calls received from neighbouring Authorities	Total calls received	Calls transferred to other Authorities	Calls answered by own ambulance

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CLINICS AND TREATMENT CENTRES. 1.—Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics (provided by the Council)

Centre	Clinic	Times of Clinics

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Clinics are held at these hospitals as follows:—

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TABLE VI. Cases admitted to the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital during the Year 1948.

Disease	Cases	Deaths

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The following information relating to the hospital's activities during the year is supplied by the courtesy of the Secretary:—

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Number of patients admitted from Merton and Morden:—

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The births notified under Section 203, as adjusted by transferred notifications, were as follows:—

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TABLE VII. Attendances at Ante-Natal Clinics. (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

Clinic	No. on Register	Attendances		Sessions	Average per Session
Clinic	No. on Register	Primary	Total	Sessions	Average per Session

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TABLE VIII. Attendances at Infants' Consultation Clinics. (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

Centre	No. on Register	Attendances		Sessions	Average Attendance per Session
Centre	No. on Register	*Primary	Total	Sessions	Average Attendance per Session

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TABLE IX. Attendances at all Centres over last 10 years.

Year	No. of Infants attending during year	No. of Women attending Maternity Clinics	ATTENDANCES			Grand Total
			Infants		Maternity
			Primary under I year	Total

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TABLE X. Number of Children under one year and Expectant Mothers attending the Centres in relation to the Registered Births.

Year	Registered births	Infants under 1 year		Mothers who attended either Ante-Natally or Post-Natally.
Year	Registered births	Primary attendances	Percentage of registered births	Number attended	Percentage of registered births

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Other clinics held at the hospital are as follows:—

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Continued from previous page...

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Sickness during this period amounted to 89 days, reducing our effective strength again by half a health visitor, or leaving us for the period with 94% of the establishment, so that for the year we were approximately 94%, the result of which is to show a gratifying output as the following details of the visits made clearly shows:—

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HOME HELP SCHEME, 1948.

	Full	Cost	Partial Cost		Free of Cost		Total for Year
Service	1st Jan. to 4th July	5th July to 31st Dec	1st Jan. to 4th July	5th July to 31st Dec	1st Jan. to 4th July	5th July to 31st Dec	Total for Year

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TABLE XI. Attendances at Dental Clinics, (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

Cases referred from	Number who attended during year	Number of Attendances made

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The dental operations performed were as follows:— TABLE XII. Dental Scheme (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48) Operations Performed.

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The following details of work undertaken by the Midwife relate only to the period from 1st January to 4th July, 1948.

Cases conducted :	Primipara		Multipara	Total

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Medical Aid Forms sent—10

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The following are the main facts relating to child life protection work during the year:—

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TABLE XIII. Day Nurseries — Average Daily Attendances, (From January to June, 1948).

Nursery	Jan.	Feb.	March	April	May	June

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The salvage tonnage for the year was as follows:—

	Tons.		Tons.

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Unsound Food. The undermentioned articles of food were found, upon inspection, to be unfit for human consumption; were surrendered and either destroyed or disposed of for animal feeding or salvage:—

Description.	Amount.		Cause.

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Continued from previous page...

Description.	Amount.		Cause.

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Merton. Slaughtering is carried out on Sunday mornings and this necessitates the attendance of a Meat and Food Inspector almost every Sunday during the year.

Carcases Inspected.	Cattle	Cows	Calves	Sheep	Pies

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Results of Chemical Analyses of New Milk Samples. Solids not fat (legal standard is 8.5%).

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Milk fat (legal standard 3.0%).

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Food and Drugs Act, 1938. The following table shows the number and nature of the samples submitted to the public Analyyst:-

Article	Total Samples	Genuine	Not Genuine	Action Taken

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57 samples were obtained and submitted for examination with the following results:–

No.	Grade	Methylene Blue Test	Coliform B.	Remarks

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FACTORIES ACT, 1937. 1. Inspections for purposes of provisions as to health (including inspections made by Sanitary Inspectors).

Premises	Number on Register	Number of
Premises	Number on Register	Inspections	Written Notices	Occupiers prosecuted

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2. Cases in which defects were found.

Particulars	Number of cases in which defects were found				Number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted
Particulars	Found	Remedied	To H.M. Inspector	By H.M. Inspector	Number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted

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INCIDENCE OF MEASLES 1930-1948.

Year	Cases	Deaths	Population	Remarks

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ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS, 1948.

Case No.	Age. (Years)	Hospital to which admitted	Date of Onset	Returned to Registrar General	Confirmed by Hospital	Hospital Diagnosis	Sequel

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TABLE XIV. Scarlet Fever — Monthly Distribution.

Month	Wards									Total
Month	Abbey	Bushey Mead	Central	Morden	Park	Ravensbury	Raynes Park	St. Helier	West Barnes	Total

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The incidence in the various wards was as follows:—

Wards	Cases	Incidence per 1,000 population

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TABLE XV. Infectious Diseases, Notifications, Deaths and Distribution, 1948.

Disease	Cases Notified	Case Rate per 1,000 population	Deaths among notified cases	Percentage of deaths to cases	Distribution of Cases in Wards									No. of cases removed to hospital	Percentage of cases removed ^to hospital
Disease	Cases Notified	Case Rate per 1,000 population	Deaths among notified cases	Percentage of deaths to cases	Abbey	Bushey Mead	Central	Morden	Park	Ravensbury	Raynes Park	St. Helier	West Barnes	No. of cases removed to hospital	Percentage of cases removed ^to hospital

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TABLE XVI. Notification of Infectious Diseases (other than Tuberculosis) by age groups during the year 1948.

Disease	TOTAL CASES NOTIFIED										Total cases at all ages
Disease	Under 1 year	1-3	3-5	5-10	10-15	15-25	25-35	35-45	45-65	65 and over	Total cases at all ages

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TABLE XVII. Monthly Incidence of Infectious Disease, 1948.

Disease	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December	Total

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TABLE XVIII. Persons Immunised at Clinics during 1948.

WARDS	AGE GROUPS				Total Completed Primary	Total Single Boosting Injections
	0-5 years		5-15 years
	Completed Primary	Single Boosting Injections	Completed Primary	Single Boosting Injections

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TABLE XIX. Persons Immunised by Private Practitioners, 1948.

WARDS	AGE GROUPS				Total Completed Primary	Total Single Boosting Injections
	0-5 years		5-15 years
	Completed Primary	Single Boosting Injections	Completed Primary	Single Boosting Injections

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TABLE XX. Children Immunised in Day Nurseries.

Nursery	Completed

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TABLE XXI. Number of Children Immunised at Schools, 1948.

School	Incomplete	Completed Primary	Single Boosting Injections

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The number immunised since the inauguration of the Public Clinics in 1934 is as follows:'—

	At Clinics	By Doctors	In Schools	At Day Nurseries	Total

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TABLE XXII. Incidence and Fatality of Diphtheria, 1920-1948.

Year	Population	No. of cases	Incidence rate per 1,000 population	No. of deaths	Percentage of deaths to cases

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TABLE XXIII. Diphtheria Immunisation.

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Age Distribution of Immunised Children.

Age at 31.12.48 i.e. born in year	Under 1 1948	1 1947	2 1946	3 1945	4 1944	5 to 9 1939-43	10 to 15 1934-38	Total Immunised	Estimated Population 0-5	Estimated Population 5-15	Total Population up to 15

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These additions were:—

	Males	Females	Total

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TABLE XXIV. Tuberculosis Register at 31st December, 1948.

Wards	Registered at 31st December, 1948		Totals	Number on Register at mid-year
Wards	Pulmonary	Non-Pulmonary	Totals	Number on Register at mid-year

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TABLE XXV. Deaths Due to Tuberculosis, 1948.

Ages Years	Pulmonary		Non-Pulmonary		Totals
Ages Years	Males	Females	Males	Females	Totals

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TABLE XXVI. Tuberculosis — New Cases, Age and Sex, Distribution and Manner of Admission to Register.

Age Groups. Years	Primary Notifications ("A").				Cases transferred from other districts.				Cases brought to notice otherwise than by notification and transfer.				Total new cases
	Pulmonary		Non-Pulmonary		Pulmonary		Non-Pulmonary		Pulmonary		Non-Pulmonary
	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F

London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Merton and Morden 1948

68 tables in this report

MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CENTRES.

SECTION A. STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.

Industry. There were 194 factories registered under the Factory Act at the end of the year, as follows:—

The monthly recordings are as shown below:— RAINFALL, 1948.

The following table sets out over the past five years the local infant mortality rate as compared with that for England and Wales: —

TABLE I. COMPARATIVE STATISTICS, 1948. (Registrar General's Figures with Corresponding Figures for Merton and Morden added).

The following table gives an indication of the trend over the past twelve years —

TABLE II Showing Births and Deaths with Rates since the Amalgamation of Merton with Morden.

Inquests. Inquests were held on 15 deaths occurring in the district, 9 of which were in respect of residents. The verdicts returned were as follows:—

CANCER DEATH RATE. No. of deaths from Cancer for past 10 years.

TABLE III. Deaths from Respiratory Diseases, 1928-1948.

TABLE IV. Causes of Death during the year 1948.

TABLE V. Maternal Mortality, 1928-1948. With Comparable Rates for England and Wales.

Infant Deaths — With causes of death.

Continued from previous page...

The total number of premature babies notified during the year were as follows, born:—

The figures relating to cases and visits n this district during the year are as follows: —

The scope of the pathological work undertaken during the period from 1st January to 4th July, 1948, is as follows: —

The following table shows the scope of the work undertaken by the ambulance service of the district from the beginning of the year until 4th July, 1948:— AMBULANCE CALLS. (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

CLINICS AND TREATMENT CENTRES. 1.—Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics (provided by the Council)

Clinics are held at these hospitals as follows:—

TABLE VI. Cases admitted to the Wandle Valley Isolation Hospital during the Year 1948.

The following information relating to the hospital's activities during the year is supplied by the courtesy of the Secretary:—

Number of patients admitted from Merton and Morden:—

The births notified under Section 203, as adjusted by transferred notifications, were as follows:—

TABLE VII. Attendances at Ante-Natal Clinics. (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

TABLE VIII. Attendances at Infants' Consultation Clinics. (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

TABLE IX. Attendances at all Centres over last 10 years.

TABLE X. Number of Children under one year and Expectant Mothers attending the Centres in relation to the Registered Births.

Other clinics held at the hospital are as follows:—

Continued from previous page...

HOME HELP SCHEME, 1948.

TABLE XI. Attendances at Dental Clinics, (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48).

The dental operations performed were as follows:— TABLE XII. Dental Scheme (From 1/1/48 to 4/7/48) Operations Performed.

The following details of work undertaken by the Midwife relate only to the period from 1st January to 4th July, 1948.

Medical Aid Forms sent—10

The following are the main facts relating to child life protection work during the year:—

TABLE XIII. Day Nurseries — Average Daily Attendances, (From January to June, 1948).

The salvage tonnage for the year was as follows:—

Unsound Food. The undermentioned articles of food were found, upon inspection, to be unfit for human consumption; were surrendered and either destroyed or disposed of for animal feeding or salvage:—

Continued from previous page...

Merton. Slaughtering is carried out on Sunday mornings and this necessitates the attendance of a Meat and Food Inspector almost every Sunday during the year.

Results of Chemical Analyses of New Milk Samples. Solids not fat (legal standard is 8.5%).

Milk fat (legal standard 3.0%).

Food and Drugs Act, 1938. The following table shows the number and nature of the samples submitted to the public Analyyst:-

57 samples were obtained and submitted for examination with the following results:–

FACTORIES ACT, 1937. 1. Inspections for purposes of provisions as to health (including inspections made by Sanitary Inspectors).

2. Cases in which defects were found.

INCIDENCE OF MEASLES 1930-1948.

ANTERIOR POLIOMYELITIS, 1948.

TABLE XIV. Scarlet Fever — Monthly Distribution.

The incidence in the various wards was as follows:—

TABLE XV. Infectious Diseases, Notifications, Deaths and Distribution, 1948.

TABLE XVI. Notification of Infectious Diseases (other than Tuberculosis) by age groups during the year 1948.

TABLE XVII. Monthly Incidence of Infectious Disease, 1948.

TABLE XVIII. Persons Immunised at Clinics during 1948.

TABLE XIX. Persons Immunised by Private Practitioners, 1948.

TABLE XX. Children Immunised in Day Nurseries.

TABLE XXI. Number of Children Immunised at Schools, 1948.

The number immunised since the inauguration of the Public Clinics in 1934 is as follows:'—

TABLE XXII. Incidence and Fatality of Diphtheria, 1920-1948.

TABLE XXIII. Diphtheria Immunisation.

Age Distribution of Immunised Children.

These additions were:—

TABLE XXIV. Tuberculosis Register at 31st December, 1948.

TABLE XXV. Deaths Due to Tuberculosis, 1948.

TABLE XXVI. Tuberculosis — New Cases, Age and Sex, Distribution and Manner of Admission to Register.