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36
It is after the breast milk disappears that the real trouble
commences, and in some families baby after baby suffers from
rickets and wasting diseases. In the poorest of homes the
milk is frequently given too greatly diluted.
The puerperium is frequently too short in the case of
women with large families, and results disastrous to the health
of the mother may be a consequence. Many defects and
nuisances in the houses which otherwise might be overlooked,
are discovered by these visits, which defects are reported and
steps taken to remedy them. Pantry accommodation is very
inadequate in many houses and the food is very frequently
uncovered.
Much good is done by health visiting, and much ignorance
and superstition are dispelled. The immediate results may
be frequently disappointing, but we are encouraged with the
hope that the interest we take in the mothers' welfare may
lead to the children becoming the healthy men and women of
the future.
The distribution of visits in the different wards was as
follows :—
E.
N.
N.W.
S.
S.E.
S.W.
Total.
Miss McCleverty
Visits
530
385
22.2
8
105
80
1330
(Jan.—Oct. 12)
Revisits
312
164
9.2
2
42
36
648
Total
842
549
314
10
147
116
1978
Miss Day
Visits
294
78
109
—
1
482
(Aug. 21—Dec. 28)
Revisits
201
46
47
—
—
—
294
Total
495
124
156
—
—
1
776
Miss O'Riordan
Visits
140
85
35
99
90
93
542
(Sept. 1—Dec. 28)
Revisits
63
45
55
98
63
60
384
Total
203
130
90
197
153
153
926
Totals
Visits
964
548
366
107
195
174
2354
Revisits
576
255
194
100
105
96
1326
Total
1540
803
560
207
300
270
3680