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39
SPECIAL CLINIC FOR DELICATE CHILDREN.
Since 1925, a Special Consultation Clinic for
Delicate Children has been in operation at the Centre,
conducted by Dr. Helen M. M. Mackay, M.D.,
M.R.C.P. Medical Officers at the Infant Consultations
observing children whose conditions require special
investigation, or on whom they desire a second opinion,
refer such children to the Special Clinic. An important
feature of the Clinic is artificial light treatment by
means of a quartz mercury vapour lamp.
Below are given the figures for cases and attendance:—
New cases 100
Subsequent attendances 621
Consultations 627
Light treatments 766
No. of sessions 48
Average attendance per session 15
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT TREATMENT.
The subject of phototherapy has been one round
which, of late, much controversy has centred. There
are those who would deny that, except in certain
specified conditions, notably rickets, there is any demonstrable
proof of actual physical benefits accruing to the
recipient of Artificial Light Treatment as administered
by the Ultra Violet lamp, and further, they allege, that
the same benefit can be obtained by other and less costly
means as, for example, the administration of cod liver
oil and regulation of the food intake.
Upon the other hand there is much subjective evidence
of an improvement in general well-being, noted
in the form of better appetite, sounder sleep, increased
energy—in short, an increased joy in life. Although
such subjective evidence is necessarily suspect, tinged
as it often is with an unwarrantable optimism and faith,
its volume is such as to merit careful consideration. It