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invitation was timed to reach, the child on the morning of its
birthday. This form of propaganda was not, however, a success,
and it was found after an extended trial that the attendances did
not justify the continuance of this clinic for toddlers only. A
Toddlers' Medical Clinic was also tried at a Voluntary Centre with
the same disappointing result.
In recent years it has been the practice to send a birthday
greeting card to every child in the Borough on reaching its first
birthday. On this card there is a photograph of a healthy Camberwell
Toddler who had regularly attended an Infant Welfare Centre,
and the following greeting:
"I have been protected against diphtheria, have you ?
I am also taken to the Infant Welfare Centre, are you ?"
It is difficult to measure, the practical results of this form of
propaganda, but it provides evidence of the endeavours of the
Council to stimulate interest in these essential public health services.
Experience has proved that to secure the attendance of toddlers
for periodical medical overhaul at special clinics is slow uphill
work. Unfortunately mothers are not convinced that continued
attendance at an infant welfare centre is necessary when their
children pass the age of one year, or if they do desire to continue
attendance, it is frequently found that a mother finds it difficult to
arrange to bring her young infant on one day, and attend again
with a toddler at a special session on another day.
In my report to the Council on Circular No. 1550 I stated
that although in the past toddlers' consultation clinics have not
been as successful as anticipated, and the scheme at present in
operation for the supervision of toddlers at the infant consultation
sessions, at those Centres where special toddlers' clinics have not
been established is working satisfactorily, I suggested that as a
further experiment toddlers' clinics be provided for a period of,
say, six months, at the four Municipal Infant Welfare Centres.
I was also of opinion that the setting-up of such clinics would
tend to relieve the congestion at the general medical sessions,
particularly at the Mayward House and Dulwich Centres.
It is pleasing to report that the Council at their meeting in
December approved the establishment of toddlers' clinics on the
lines suggested, and decided to appoint a temporary medical officer
specially qualified for these duties and a temporary health visitor.
Supply of Meals to Expectant and Nursing Mothers.
In 1935, arrangements were made by the Council with the
Invalid Kitchens of London to supply mid-day meals at their
kitchen at 10A, Huguenot Road, Peckham, to expectant and
nursing mothers in necessitous circumstances recommended for