Ac4342 2 pae copy LIBRARY HOL 37 METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF HOLBORN. Abridged Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the Year 1939. 1. POPULATION. Registrar General's estimated Population Mid-1939. (a) For Birth rate 33,400 (b) For Death rate 30,660 LIVE BIRTHS. Total M. F. Birth rate per 1000 Estimated Population 6.85 Legitimate 202 104 98) Illegitimate 27 12 15) STILLBIRTHS. 13 7 6 Rate per 1,000 total (live and still births) 53.72 DEATHS. 378 12.33 DEATHS FROM PUERPERAL CAUSES. Deaths Rate per 1000, total live and still births. Puerperal Sepsis 0 Other Puerperal Causes 1 4.13 DEATH RATS OF INFANTS UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE. All infant's per 1,000 live births 61.14 Legitimate infants per 1,000 legitimate births 49.5 Illegitimate infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births 148.1 NOTIFICATION OF BIRTHS. The total number of notified births, including stillbirths, occurring in the Borough were 56. Of this number 5 were notified by Medical Practitioners, 33 by Midwives and 18 by other persons. CLASSIFICATION OF DEATHS. The causes of deaths (378) were as follows:- Typhoid and Para-typhoid Fevers 0. Scarlet Fever 0. Whooping Cough 0. Measles 0. Diptheria 0. Influenza 4 Encephalitis Lethargica 0. Cerebro-spinal Fever 0. Tuberculosis of the Respiratory System 18. Other Tuberculosis Diseases 2. Syphilis 3. 2. Classification of Deaths (contd). General Paralysis of the Insane, Tabes Dorsalis 3. Cancer 57. Diabetes 5. Cerebral Haemorrhage 10. Heart Disease 103. Aneurysm 2. Other circulatory diseases 30. Bronchitis 17. Pneumonia 22. Other respiratory diseases 6. Peptic Ulcer 7. Diarrhoea (under 2 years) 3. Appendicitis 0. Cirrhosis of Liver 4. Other diseases of Liver 0. Other Digestive diseases 8. Nephritis 7. Puerperal Sepsis 0. Other Puerperal causes 1. Congenital Debility, Premature Birth, Malformation etc. 4 Senility 11. Suicide 6. Other violence 14. Other defined causes 30. Causes ill-defined or unknown 0. Diarrhoea (over 2 years) 1. INFANT MORTALITY. There were 14 deaths of Infants under one year of age. The causes of deaths were as follows:- Syphilis 2. Pneumonia 3. Diarrhoea 3. Cirrhosis of Liver 1. Congenital Debility, Premature birth, Malformation etc. 4. Other violence 1. PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN BOROUGH. BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS. The total number of Bacteriological and other examinations carried out was 275.Included in this number were 263 for the Diptheria Bacillus and 12 for Tubercle Bacillus. NURSING IN THE HOME. The arrangement with the Metropolitan District Nursing Association to undertake the nursing of necessitous cases of Measles, Whooping Cough, Ophthalmia Neonatorum, Epidemic Diarrhoea, Pneumonia, Encephalitis Lethargica, Tuberculosis, Maternity (including complications after confinement) Puerperal Fever and Puerperal Pyrexia, was continued throughout the year. The total number of visits was 357 (14 cases). 3. MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE CENTRES. The Maternity and Child Welfare Centres in the Borough are maintained at 10, John Street and Shorts Gardens. Four infant clinics and two ante-natal clinics were held weekly throughout the year. The total number of attendances at the clinics by mothers and children was 7571. There were 381 attendances by mothers at the ante-natal and post-natal clinics. CONFINEMENTS. Arrangements were continued throughout the year with one of the principal Maternity Hospitals within reach of Holborn to accept normal cases of confinement. 182 Expectant mothers were visited during the year, of this number 135 went into hospital. BATHS. The baths provided free of charge at the John Street Centre for expectant and nursing mothers were used 841 times during the year. PHYSICAL. CULTURE CLASSES FOR MOTHERS. These classes which are held every Thursday at John Street Clinic were continued throughout the year under the direction of a fully qualified instructress (Miss N. Fairgrieve) appointed on the recommendation of the Central Council for Recreative Physical Training. INSTRUCTION IN MOTHERCRAFT AND HYGIENE. Mrs. Alice Gibson and Miss Edith Joyce have continued to give a great deal of valuable assistance during the year by making children's garments for mothers from materials supplied by the mothers and from their own resources. Mrs. Lauder Eaton gave assistance at the Centre regularly on Wednesdays 4. Instructions in Mothercraft and Hygiene (contd.) until September 1939. Assistance. is given at the Centre in cutting out garments. Patterns of the most suitable woven garments are given away; also directions for making knitted garments, and advice as to the choice of suitable materials. A sewing machine is available for use of the mothers at 10, John Street and instruction in its use is given as required. Up-to-date model garments for babies and young children are always on view at the Centres. 17½ lbd. White Vest Wool and 183 hanks of Welsh wool of a special quality were sold at cost price to the value of £15-5-0. Maternity Outfits ere on sale at the Centre at cost price. No outfits were sold during the year. DENTAL TREATMENT. A Dental Clinic is maintained at 10, John Street for the provision of dental treatment for nursing and expectant mothers and children under five years of age. 68 mothers and 63 children attended for treatment. HOME HELPS. 33 Cases were attended by the Home Helps. The applicants contributed £6-18-6 towards the cost. CONVALESCENT HOMES. 30 Mothers and 62 children were sent away to Convalescent Homes INFANT LIFE PROTECTION. There were no foster mothers on the Register in 1939. Applications are received from time to time from parents and others desirous of placing children with suitable foster mothers; but much difficulty is experienced in finding suitable homes where foster 5. Infant Life Protection (contd.) children can be received. In some cases it has been possible to make arrangements through the co-operation of the Child Guidance Council. SUPPLY OF MILK FOR MOTHERS AND CHILDREN. Milk and food was supplied during the year as follows:- 4,733 gallons of Liquid Milk and 2,355 lbs. of Dried Milk to nursing mothers, expectant mothers and children under five years of age. PRE-SCH00L CHILDREN. Owing to the War, a number of children between the ages of 2 and 5 years,have been evacuated to the country and some are still away. 292 Children suffering from various diseases etc. attended the Clinic at 10, John Street for treatment. HEALTH VISITORS. The total number of visits made by the Health Visitors was 3,360. The number of attendances at the clinics was 625. SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES AND ADMINISTRATION. During the year 16,074 inspections (including reinspections) were carried out by the Sanitary Inspectors. Included in this total number were 103 inspections on complaints of nuisance and 205 with reference to infectious disease. The number of inspections of Factories, Workshops and Workplaces was 3,585. Defects were found and remedied in 45 instances. 229 Intimation notices, 40 statutory notices under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936 and 403 notices under the byelaws as to Houses-let-in-Lodgings were served during the year. 6. Sanitary Circumstances and Administration (contd.) No legal proceedings were instituted during the year to enforce compliance with notices served under the Public Health (London) Act 1936. DISINFECTION. During the year 195 rooms were disinfected after cases of infectious or other disease. Of these 23 were rooms which had been occupied by tuberculous persons. In addition 110 rooms were disinfested of vermin. At the disinfecting station 5,474 articles of bedding, clothing etc, were disinfected. The furniture of 2 tenants removing to the London County Council estates or the Council's flats was treated by cyanide fumigation, the process being carried out by the Royal Borough of Kensington under. agreement with the Holborn Borough Council. CLEANSING STATION. The number of-verminous persons cleansed during the year was 98 males and 1 female. 50 persons (19 males, 18 females and 13 children) were cleansed for scabies. Under the scheme arranged with the London County Council 732 attendances were made by children from elementary schools for cleansing at the station. HOUSING The total number of dwelling houses inspected for housing defects was 384, the number found not to be in all respects reasonably fit for human habitation being 86. The number rendered fit in consequence of informal action being taken by the Sanitary Inspectors was 86 and the number in respect of which statutory notices were served requiring defects to be remedied was 53.