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The chief causes of death during the year were heart disease (127), cancer (81), cerebral haemorrhage,
etc. (58), and bronchitis (52) in males, and heart disease (130), cancer (100), cerebral haemorrhage, etc.
(62), and pneumonia (37) in females.

It will be seen that apart from a break in 1938-42 the fall in the infant mortality rate has been
steady and continuous. The rate of fall is slowing down as preventable deaths are being eliminated.
The chief causes of infant deaths are (a) prematurity and congenital defects and (b) infections.

The figures indicate that the hard core of deaths from prematurity, etc., is beginning to yield.
They also show that too many infant deaths continue to be due to infection. While advances in medical
science have done much to reduce the toll of infections, efforts must be continued to remove factors such
as overcrowding and ignorance which contribute to the occurrence, spread and neglect of infections.
Maternal Mortality.—The number of deaths due to causes associated with piegnancy and childbirth
was one. This gives a maternal mortality rate per 1,000 total (live and still) births of 0.5 as compared
with 1.2 for England and Wales. This rate of 0.5 is the lowest to be found in the Borough records.
Maternal deaths are usually divided into those due to septic infection and those due to diseases and other
conditions associated with pregnancy and labour, and the local trend of deaths from these two causes
is shown below :—

Here, as with the national figures, the reduction in maternal deaths is shown to be due largely to
the prevention of deaths from septic infection, and much of the credit for this must go to sulphonamides
and penicillin. Improved ante-natal and obstetric care have played their part in the overall reduction
and must continue the fight against deaths from causes other than sepsis.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES
Laboratory Service.—Certain routine bacteriological work is done in the laboratory at the Health
Department. When more detailed investigation is required specimens are sent to the Clinical Research
Association, the Camberwell Research Laboratory or the Public Health Laboratory Seivice. The number
of specimens examined during 1947 was 419.
Ambulance Service.- The service provided by the Council was available throughout the 24 hours
and the vehicles (2 ambulances, 1 car) were housed at the Ambulance Station in Montague Road. A new
ambulance was put into service during the year. The number of journeys made during the year was
5,369 (512 accident, 4,857 other) as compared with 4,386 (590 accident, 3,796 other) in 1946. Middlesex
County Council maintained a fleet of ambulances at West Middlesex County Hospital and an ambulance
for infectious cases was provided by the South Middlesex and Richmond Joint Hospital Board.
Home Nursing.—The Borough was served by the Heston and Isleworth District Nursing Association,
whose nurses attended 2,777 patients and made 26,800 visits during 1947. The Council made
a contribution to the funds of this voluntary organisation.
. Infant Welfare Centres.—Sessions are held at Hounslow and Isleworth Health Centres, Heston
lllage Hall and Cranford Memorial Hall. Twelve sessions are held each week and a doctor is present
at each session. The work is almost wholly of an advisory nature in regard to the rearing and nurture
0 mtants and young children. When further treatment is required the children are referred to private
Practitioners, hospitals, etc. At the centres mothers can purchase certain dried milks and vitamin
preparations and can obtain orange iuice and vitamin suDDlements suDDlied bv the Ministry of Food.
he attendance of children during 1947 is shown below:—
7