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30
One of the questions I have been asking myself in the
course of work at the Centre this winter has been : How
much could the incidence of colds and bronchitis be
diminished? I think bronchitis must be largely preventable
and should not be so prevalent as it is in Bethnal Green.
In trying to educate the mothers as to the value of fresh
air indoors as well as out, one comes up at once against the
housing shortage. In a limited space which has to serve for
cooking and all household duties as well as living room, the air
must get too moist and overheated. A baby or an older child
spends its time in this atmosphere and is then taken out into
a very different temperature. This is probably quite a frequent
cause of bronchitis, though by no means the only one. Many
babies are not taken out enough, and it is very difficult for a
busy mother to find time to go out. In these cases I always
suggest letting the baby sleep or lie by a widely opened window.
The outdoor clothes can be put on first in cold weather.
Clothes are gradually becoming more sensible. Many
children still suffer from having too many layers of flannelette
and calico. Knitted clothes of a good wool that does not
shrink are expensive to buy. Good wools are sold at cost
price at the Centre, but a mother with more than one child
does not have much spare time for knitting. The fashions
for babies change slowly, but the superiority of knitted woollies
over the heavy and cumbersome garments they so often wear
is becoming more realised. In my experience, mothers are
still far too frightened of suiting the costume to the weather.
On a hot summer day many children perspire under numerous
garments for fear they should catch cold if the number is
lessened.
There is still a fair amount of rickets, though I can only
remember seeing one really serious case this year, in which
the epiphyses were much enlarged and the tibiae badly bent. I
believe the prevention of rickets is very important.
D. E. Mason.