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correct mistakes in the management of their children, and while they sit
round the lamp, full use is made of the opportunity for giving detailed
instructions as to diet, clothing, sleep, etc.
It is found that thin, nervous children suffering from loss of appetite,
fretfulness and inability to sleep, show great improvement after a
prolonged course of treatment—say four to six months—whereas fat,
rickety babies seem to get more benefit in the first two months although
the loss of weight in these latter babies is apt to cause the mother to
lose faith in the ultra-violet rays.
Patience and tact is necessary on the part of the Nurse, and
intelligent co-operation on the part of the mother, or the magical effects
claimed by some vendors of the ultra-violet ray lamp will bring discredit
on the method. One mother who brought her child once only to the
Centre declared that he had got Measles from coming, although the
illness developed on the day after his first treatment. A more intelligent
lady who bravely attended all through the winter months assured us
that her boy had never before been so entirely free from coughs and
colds, in spite of the fact that we have the windows open.
The cost of running the Light Treatment Centre for the year ended
March 31st, 1928 was £395 3s. 4d. as compared with £371 14s. 4d.
in the previous year.
Babies' Home, Albury Street.
The Babies' Home, Albury Street, is useful in the treatment of
dietetic and sub-acute cases. The Council subsidised eight cots at £50
a year each, but later in 1926 it decided to pay £2 a week or part of a
week, per case for any cases sent in by the Council's Medical Officers.
This rate was altered to 6s. 6d. per patient per day, as from
1st January, 1927. The total number of new cases sent in during the
year 1927 was fourteen.