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97
As before, breast-feeding has been encouraged as far as possible
and in many cases the mother's health has received attention with
the view of increasing the supply. Where bottle-feeding had to be
carried out, wholly or partially, cows' milk was sometimes difficult
to obtain, and we had to depend chiefly on dried or condensed railk,
but on the whole our results have been very satisfactory. This
success has been largely contributed to by the tactful way in which
the home visits have been carried out by the Superintendent and
the voluntary workers.
(Sgd.) J. M. Laughton, M.B.
5. Eton Mission, Gainsborough Road. (Voluntary.)
The number of attendances at the above Centre during the year
1919 was 2,631 (as compared with 885 during 1918, which was the
first complete year). The children are now brought at an earlier
age than when the Centre was first opened, often before the third
week of age, and this gives a better chance of giving useful advicc.
In the case of babies over three or four months of age, the most
frequent causes for seeking advice are wasting and conditions due to
errors of feeding, and these can often be rectified quickly.
The smallest child brought was one weighing 3 lbs. 12] ozs. at five
weeks of age ; seven months this infant weighed 11 lbs. and had cut
two teeth. Another child weighed 6 lbs. 2¾ ozs. at three and a half
months, and eleven months later weighed 16 lbs. 4¾ ozs., could stand,
and had cut three teeth.
Every endeavour is made to get the mothers to breast-feed
babies entirely if possible, or with the aid of supplementary artificial
foods if necessary. In some cases milk is supplied to the mothers,
and this often enables them to breast-feed their babies.
A number of children have been referred to the Queen's Hospital
for treatment, such as for nsevi or circumcision, or to a private,
doctor or hospital, for bronchitis, discharging ears, or skin eruptions.
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