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With regard to still-births and infant deaths (under the age of
one year), a limited number of these were visited. Owing to pressure
ot work it was not possible to visit all.
The Needlework Class continues to do good work. A special
effort is made to induce those expecting a first baby to attend in
order that their infants' clothes may be made of good material
from suitable patterns. Several have taken advantage of this.
For the rest, many mothers learn to cut out, fit and make up their
children's clothes. They are encouraged to attempt to do things
quite "on their own" in their homes, and to bring their children
wearing such garments. A generous amount of praise is given to
these efforts.
The social side of the Needlework Class is as much a help as
the work side. To many of the mothers it is the one patch of
brightness of the week. There were about 600 attendances, and
450 garments were made. Miss Baxter continues to give very
valuable help. The afternoon is also rendered very enjoyable by the
tea and cakes very kindly supplied at cost price by Mrs. Price and Miss
Blay. To these and the following ladies, who make vests for our babies,
we are very greatly indebted : Lady Baddeley, Mrs. Collen, Miss
Gardiner, Miss Boorn, Mrs. Hood, Miss M. E. Please, Mrs. Shepherd,
Miss Thome, Mrs. and Miss Walters; also to the Headmistresses
of the following Schools, who have wool knitted according to our
directions in some ot their classes: Southgate County School,
Palmer's Green ; Princess May Road L.C.C. School; Wordsworth
Road L.C.C. School.
The Milk Fund lapsed in the early part of the year, the supply
being continued under the Milk (Mothers' and Children's) Order, 1918.
During the year, 168 mothers were helped by the supply of
raw or dried milk at half-price or free, according to circumstances.
These were all Centre cases. By this means many infants were
kept at the breast who would otherwise have been bottle-fed. A
new departure has been the allowance of milk to selected mothers
during the latter three months of pregnancy. This has given some
extremely good results.