Vital statistics, England and Wales, 1936

PUBLIC H E A L T H Reports of last meeting of the British Dental Association Conference on Salaries were presented by Messrs. Grantley Smith and Mason, and Mr. Taylor presented his report of the meeting of the Joint Committee of Groups. The President then called on Miss Radcliffe to open the discussion on the subject, " Maternity and Child Welfare Dental Schemes; Their Scope and Future Development." Miss Radcliffe spoke of the old wives' tales which had condemned the dental treatment of expectant mothers and pre-school children, and stressed the need for public education in dentistry and dietetics. She spoke of the appalling condition of the teeth of the pre-schoot child, only 10 per cent. having sound teeth. The toddlers were seen every six months and their parents were instructed in the care of the mouth and the value of the teeth. It was found that the very young abused the tooth brush and food of a detergent nature was advised. Great sympathy was necessary in the treatment of the mothers, and chairside talks on dental hygiene and dietetics were listened to eagerly and were of great value. The development of dental schemes for welfare patients is a slow process as it is pioneer work at the present time. By propaganda and simple talks the public will be educated in time and the dental health of the nation will thus improve. Mr. McClelland continued the discussion and dealt with the problem from the point of view of a county dental officer. He stressed the great scope of dental treatment, the inadequacy of the present schemes and the general ignorance of dental hygiene. Unfortunately, too many patients attend only for the relief of pain, and many mothers are ignorant of the benefits of the Welfare Centre and to some the word " Ante-natal " is difficult to understand. Mr. McCleUand quoted cases where every care, both ante- and post-natal, had been taken and yet caries was rampant in the child's mouth, and he confessed that he had experienced difficulty in finding an explanation. Mr. Mason said that there was very little information concerning M. and C.W. dental schemes. It was unfair that the overworked school dental officers should be asked to undertake this work in addition to the treatment of school children. Therefore, he suggested that an additional dental officer should be appointed to carry out M. and C.W. dental treatment.. All expectant mothers should be examined by the dental officer as the medical officer tended to refer only those who were in a bad dental condition, and when it was too late. Mr. Thomson considered that the present methods of dental education and propaganda were inadequate and he agreed that poor mothers did not understand the w o r d " Ante-natal." Mr. Alley suggested that education could be forwarded by wireless talks. He complained that expectant mothers did not attend for treatment until the sixth month of pregnancy. Dr. Sim Wallace stressed the supreme value of dietetics in the prevention of dental caries. Mr. Pilbeam told how he had often seen nurses give biscuits to toddlers without realising how bad they were 166

FEBRUARY for the teeth. He suggested means whereby it could be made easier for patients to attend for dental treatment. Mr. Wilshaw spoke of the value of the enthusiastic nurse and voluntary worker. He quoted cases which proved the value of dietetic control in the prevention of dental caries and suggested an original method of dental health education. Messrs. Neame and Taylor joined in the discussion and the President reminded members of the excellent charts and pamphlets on the prevention of caries which could be obtained from the Society. Miss Radcliffe and Mr. McClelland both replied to points raised and summed up the discussion. On the motion of the President, supported by Mr. Alley, the President of the North-Western Sub-Group, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Miss Radcliffe and Mr. McClelland. Mr. Mason raised the question of the Poisons Act, and suggested that Procain and other local anaesthetics were listed as No. 1 poisons. It was agreed that this matter should be placed before the Council of the Group. The meeting then terminated.

VITAL STATISTICS, ENGLAND AND WALES, 1936. The Registrar-General has announced the following provisional figures of birth-rates, death-rates and infant mortality for the year 1986. Rate per 1,000 Deaths Resident Popuunder lation. One Year per 1,000 Deaths Registered Live (Crude Live Births. Rates)__[ Births. England and Wales

...

14"8

12.1

[

.........

ii-

i

59.0

122 County Boroughs and (~reat Towns including London . . . . . . . . .

14.9

12.3

143 Smaller Towns with estimated resident populations of 25,000-50,000 at the 1931 Census ...

15,3

11.7

55.0

I,ondon Administrative County . . . . . . . . .

13.7

12.5

66.0

63.0

Note.--The Birth and Death-rates for England and Wales as a whole are calculated on the estimated Mid-1936 population, but those for the Towns Aggregates and for London are calculated on the estimated Mid-1935 populations.

The birth-rate for 1986 is 0.1 above that for 1985 and is 0.4 above that of 1988, the lowest recorded. The crude death-rate is 0.4 above that of 1985 and 0.7 above that of 1980, the lowest on record. The infant mortality is 2 above that of 1985 which was the lowest recorded, and is the same as that of 1984, the previous lowest record,