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

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Hampstead 1918

Report for the year 1918 of the Medical Officer of Health

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42
woman must needs understand, that the blessings of health of body, and
health of mind and morals, can be secured at home. Without a
knowledge of such laws the mother's love too often finds its recompense
only in a child's coffin."
The work of the Ante-Natal Clinic, formed in the early part of
1917, has made considerable progre-s during the year. In connection
with the work of getting expectant mothers to attend the Clinic, Mrt.
Roche, the Council's Lady Health Visitor, paid ninety visits during
the year. The report of Dr. Mary Kidd, M.B. (Lond.l, the Medical
Officer in Charge of the Clinic, is as follows:—

"Report of the Medical Officer in Chare. ox the Work of the Ante-Natal Clinic for the Year 1918.

Maternity Clinic,73, Dynham Road,Kilburn, N. W.
Number of Clinics held83
Number of new cases seen56
Number of old cases seen149
Total attendances205

The Clinic had only come into being a few months before the
beginning of the period with which I deal. For a recently started
Clinic (comparatively speaking) the attendance has, on the whole, been
good. I am greatly indebted to the Borough Health Visitors for
making the existence of the Clinic known, and for sending me a great
many patients. Two of the midwives in the Borough have also sent
me expectant mothers for advice and treatment from time to time.
The range of one's activities seems to grow as the work develops.
One does not only give advice and treatment for the large number of
minor disorders of pregnancy (such as dyspepsia, morning vomiting,
anæmia, and varicose veins), but one also has to enter, in many cases
into the question of how each mother is getting proper nourishment
for herself and, incidentally, for the child that is coming. In many
cases alas! one finds that the mother is going short herself so as to let
her children have enough food. This at once necessitates one getting
into touch with the War Pensions Committee (in the case of a soldier's
wife) and getting an extra allowance for her of five shillings weekly, or