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8
Full particulars of all cripples under five years of
age are now kept on a " card system," so that they can
readily be inspected at frequent intervals and each
child's progress noted.
A special record will in future be kept of all
children who die under two years of age, and the Health
Visitor concerned has an interview with the Medical
Officer of Health with regard to each case. The
question of " Home Helps" for the assistance of
mothers after confinement has been considered, but
the question is one beset with much difficulty and no
solution has so far been arrived at.
It is hoped that in the coming year Baby Week
will be observed.
Milk.—This question has engaged much attention,
and all free grants of milk will in future be of Grade A
(Tuberculin Tested), for " Pasteurized" Milk is regarded
at best as very dirty milk, full of dead germs,
and which by re-heating (as is often the case) to preserve
it is rendered practically valueless. The popularity
of the former grade of pure milk will be ensured
by propaganda work in the form of lectures with film
views and the distribution of pamphlets on Grade A
(Tuberculin Tested) Milk. At the Centre this grade of
pure milk will be distributed, for it is unthinkable that
these children should run any risk of acquiring tuberculosis.
No form of dried milk will be used in which
vitamins have been destroyed by high temperature.
" Occasional " milk is a source of danger, for its origin
is not always clear. Labels on packets of dried milk
will in future contain a list of vegetable and fruit juices
containing vitamins, and the definite statement that
these are "fundamentally necessary for the child's
health and growth." At present, the mothers think
that fruit juice, etc., is just for the child's bowels and
neglect to provide it and premonitory symptoms of
shortage of vitamins are observed, including probably
irritability.