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51 cases were referred to hospital.
259 cases were sent to massage, all showing improvement
as the result of treatment where regular attendances
could be maintained.
Other children were referred when necessary to their own
doctors for treatment.
The majority of the consultations were in cases of general
infant management and nutrition. Particularly interesting were
one family of triplets (Mrs. R's babies, now aged 11 months and
all doing well).
The health of the children has been good on the whole, though
there have been many absences in the last few months on account
of whooping cough. There was very little severe diarrhoea during
the summer months.
There have been four deaths during the year among children
attending the centre. One was a severe case of spina bifida who
developed bronchitis ; three deaths from pneumonia, all under
1 year old.
Deaths among children in the district not attending the
Centre, all under 1 year, were :—
6 Premature twins.
1 Premature.
1 Premature and congenital heart disease.
1 Congenital abnormality, died 4th day in hospital.
2 Overlaying.
5 Pneumonia (one following whooping cough).
Total deaths—20.
Every effort is made to encourage and maintain breast feeding.
In cases of difficulty the mothers are asked to attend during the
week following their interview for test-feeding by the Health
Visitors. With the help of the knowledge of the case thus gained,
and in suitable cases by the grant of extra nourishment, it has often
been possible for breast feeding to be continued.
On Thursday afternoons during the year the Sewing Class .
has been held and Health Talks given. The social side of the Centre
has been well maintained. A Mothers' Social is held once a month
in the evenings, and a Fathers' Club, at which a talk is given, once
a month.
A concert was held at which prizes were given to fathers and
mothers for handwork done during the year.
In addition to the Ante-Natal work carried out under the
Maternity and Child Welfare Scheme of the Council a considerable
amount of visiting and reporting of cases is done by the Council's
Health Visiting Staff for the Obstetric and Gynaecological Departments
of the larger Hospitals in connection with Battersea patients
attending these institutions.