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Sanitary Inspector. In 173 cases re-visits were made. Altogether in
connection with this work 828 visits were paid wi'h a view to giving
simple instructions to the mothers in infant, care and management.
Dinner tickets for nursing moihers (Mrs. Gordon's Association) were
given in suitable cases, and a large number of babies were taken regularly
to the Infants' Consultations, held one afternoon a week, in connection
with the Chelsea Health Society. The mo hers attend fortnightly at
the consultations if the babies maintain a good condition of health, and
weekly if the baby is not thriving as well as could be desired.
During the summer months, 25 cases of infantile diarrhoea were
brought to the notice of the Lady Sanitary Inspector, and 47 visits were
paid in connection with these cases. In all these cases advice was given
as to the proper manner of following the directions given by the medical
attendant. Of the 25 infants visited for summer diarrhoea, it is
satisfactory to record that only one case ended fatally.
Chelsea Health Society.—This Society was formed at the end of
the year 1910, under the patronage of Earl Cadogan, K.G., and commenced
its work in the Borough early in 1911. The primary object of
the Society is to promote the improvement of the health of mothers and
infants in Chelsea by means of visits to the homes by voluntary Lady
Health Visitors. Each family is visited periodically—infants once a
month, as a general rule, but more frequently when necessary. Advice
is given to the mothers as to the care and management of the infants, and
practical demonstrations are afforded of the methods advocated. Visitors
aim at checking illness by observing early symptoms of infantile disorders,
and pointing out to the parents the necessity of prompt medical attention.
Out.patients attending hospitals are also visited at their homes to ensure
that the instructions given at the Hospitals are being carried out as far
as possible. Expectant mothers are advised as regards their health, and
as to making suitable provision for their confinements.
Infant consultations under the direction of a medical practitioner
(Dr. Beckett-Overy) have been held weekly in a room at the Wesleyan
Methodist Hall, King's-road, since July, 1911. From 20 to 30 babies are
seen weekly.
The total number of cases referred to the Society in 1912 was 398.
Of the 398 cases, 187 were references from St. George's Hospital. Out of
350 infants visited, 20 deaths occurred in the course of the year, corresponding
to an infantile mortality rate of 57, as compared with 70 for the
entire Borough. From St. George's Hospital 145 maternity cases were
referred to the Society, and 1,554 visits were paid in connection with
these cases. Six of the infants were still-born, and six died in the course
of the year.
The Society has worked in co-operation with the Public Health
Department and with the various charitable, relief, and district visiting
organisations of the Borough, and has undoubtedly been the means of
doing an immense amount of good work in the prevention of disease and
suffering, and in enabling the poor to make the best use of their own
means and of existing organisations for improving their own and their
children's health. The work of the Society should tend not only to the
reduction of infantile mortality, but to the rearing of children of better
physique and constitutional stamina than is possible where the poorest
class of mothers are left to their own unaided guidance.