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16
1926]
REPORT OF WORK OF VOLUNTARY CENTRES.
A table is given summarising briefly the work of the Centres for the year
ending 31st March, 1927.
North Centre.—The Artificial Sunlight clinic continues its excellent work.
An additional mercury vapour lamp, the gift of Miss Isabel Harvey, has been
installed and extra preventive solarium facilities can be provided for the prevention
of rickets. The system of providing "Light" generally in the clinic is as
follows:—Children are treated at this clinic in order to increase their power of
resistance to disease, and mothers are treated for failing lactation. Both
children and mothers receive three treatments a week from a carbon
arc lamp, the exposure beginning with two or three minutes and being gradually
increased to twenty minutes. A few cases have had longer treatment varying
from half an hour to an hour. Whenever the weather is suitable, the children
are exposed to the rays of the real sun, instead of those of the lamp, and their
bodies become much browner. Very good results have been obtained with
rickety children who are treated by the carbon arc lamp twice weekly before
exposure to the newly presented mercury lamp. Generally speaking the effect of
the light treatment on children has been that their appetites, vitality and contentedness
have improved and they have had a general look of well-being.
The Centre reports that fathers are taking increasing interest in the children
and the Centre's work.
Two Massage Clinics held per week by the Almeric Paget Corps have had
to be discontinued, but the Corps will provide the services of a masseuse.
There are four Wards in connection with this Welfare Centre; three are used
for children under two years of age, the other being reserved for three mothers
with their infants. Children are admitted for dietetic trouble, and while they are
in residence before discharged restored to health, the mothers are shown where
they have made mistakes and how to carry on for the future. After discharge a
degree of home supervision is exercised to see that the mothers have really understood
the teaching given.
An interesting item of work at this Centre has been carried on for some
years, that is the lending of scales to mothers for a week in order that their babies
may be weighed at home before and after every feed. This was originally done
as it was found that a single test feed was not a sufficient guide to the Centre
doctor in regard to the mother's capacity for infant feeding.
During the Municipal "Health Week," lectures were given to the mothers
attending this Centre under various titles connected especially with the different
aspects of the subject chosen, that is, "Cleanliness and its relation to the Home
and Health." The total attendances were 499, giving an average of 83 per
lecture. Forty of the mothers from this Centre attended the inaugural lecture,
given by Professor Kenwood, at the Central Library, and as an outcome of this
an "essay competition" was held, and some of the essays submitted showed
very marked ability and powers of observation.
South Centre.—During the year a cottage, purchased by the Centre at
Flamstead, Bedfordshire—now known as Clephane Cottage—was opened for the
reception of six mothers and babies for convalescence.
The provision of "Home Helps" was discontinued during this year by the
Centre.