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13
The policy of the department is primarily to watch over and
help the children who are in the way of becoming weaklings or
"wasters," and secondarily to prevent the healthy children from
becoming ill or debilitated.
As a general rule it is considered unnecessary to visit mothers
with large families who have successfully reared all their children
or very nearly all of them. So, too, it is thought to be inexpedient
to visit mothers who live in better-class houses, or mothers who
are known to be clean, careful, and industrious.
At each visit the yard is inspected for sanitary defects which
may react adversely upon the child's progress, and any defects,
such as a broken gully grid, choked water closet, or a broken or
absent dustbin, are referred for amendment to the district sanitary
inspector.
The Health Visitors refrain entirely from diagnosis, and, as
much as possible, from all treatment, save in simple and urgent
matters. The mothers, in the first instance, are referred to their
own medical men, or, if too poor to pay for medical advice, to the
various hospitals and dispensaries in and near the borough.
Out-patients' letters are supplied, or, if not available, exact
information is given to the mothers as to where they may be
obtained and as to the times at which the institutions are open for
out-patients.
A tubeless feeding-bottle and a special teat are provided by the
Public Health Department at cost price to those who can pay, but
free of charge to the very poor mothers.
In addition, the Department supplies "Finsbury Cream," a
special form of fat-food to wasting and debilitated children. This
has been found of great service. The babies take it. readily ; the
mothers buy it at cost price. It is given gratis to those mothers
who cannot afford to pay.
A list is appended of Creches and other Institutions in and
around the borough, which are available for the help of Finsbury
mothers and infants.