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109
Child Welfare work in Alsace Lorraine.
Subsequently I had the opportunity of seeing something of child welfare work in Alsace
Lorraine and especially in Strasbourg, where this work is undoubtedly of a high order. The
co-ordination of the official work is better than in these islands; much of the work carried
out by the British Poor Law is in Strasbourg carried out by a division of the Mairie quite
distinct from the Assistance Publique. Not only this but the work done by the Women
Visitors of the Protection de la Jeunesse in connection with abandoned, deserted and orphan
children of all ages including those put on probation by the Police Magistrates was also
co-ordinated with that of the health visitors. The connection of the Protection de la
Jeunesse with the City Orphanage was close; on the premises was a depot of the Protection
de la Jeunesse in which the children of mothers in difficulty could be placed temporarily.
I was also taken to see a foyer where children living under crowded conditions at home
and whose mothers went to work were looked after during the day time, the school holidays,
and before and after school in term time; they always slept at home. Tounger children are
taken charge of in a kindergarten. The Protection de la Jeunesse also possessed a residential
institution for delicate children. But the work perhaps on which they pride themselves
most is the guardianship of illegitimate children; where necessary the chief official of the
Protection de la Jeunesse assumes the position of guardian to all these children and looks
after their welfare in much the same way as a foster-father.
Medical Inspection and Treatment of School Children.
The medical inspection and treatment of children attending Public Elementary
Schools in Holborn is carried out by the London County Council.
The following treatment Centres are provided under the L..C.C. Schemes:—
(1) Finsbury Centre, Spencer Street, Goswell Road.
(2) Moorfields Ophthalmic Hospital, City Eoad.
(3) Soho Centre, Gerrard Street.
(4) Lancing Street Centre, Lancing Street, N.W. 1.
(5) Cleansing Station (Scabies) Children's Baths, Central Street, E.C. 1.
Centres are also provided at the following Hospitals and Dispensaries:—
(1) St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
(2) Bloomsbury Dispensary.
(3) Central London Ophthalmic Hospital.
(4) Central London Throat and Ear Hospital.
(5) Dental Hospital.
(6) Homœpathic Hospital.
(7) Hospital for Sick Children.
(8) Italian Hospital.
(9) Metropolitan Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital.
(10) Middlesex Hospital.
(11) Royal Free Hospital.
(12) Tuberculosis Dispensary, University College Hospital.
(13) University College Hospital.
We endeavoured to co-operate with the Education Authority by giving
information respecting children suffering from infectious disease and child contacts
attending public elementary schools.