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34
more or less regularity until they are about a year old and
then not again until they are about three. In many cases
this is due to the advent of another baby and the mother
cannot 'bring both. Most of the children at their re-appearance
are fairly healthy, but a number of them show signs
of chronic catarrh of one sort and another, which might
be preventible if they were seen during the intervening
period. Catarrhal ailments are the greatest trouble among
the babies of all ages, and it is difficult to see how they
can be prevented. No doubt the education of parents as
to their children's clothing does good in this way; but
the condition must be greatly augmented by overcrowding
and stuffiness.
O. G. Potter.
It is difficult to think of any special features in last
year's work. People are getting more used to the idea of
preventive medicine, though, only too often, we are told
that a child has not attended the Centre for a year or more
because "there was nothing the matter with him." On the
other hand mothers often come to see if small orthopaedic
defects need correction: and they generally wish to have
tonsils and adenoids removed if this is necessary.
Now that so much investigation is being undertaken
into the causes of juvenile rheumatism it would be interesting
to know if the investigators ever use the records of
Welfare Centres.
The symptoms of rheumatism so seldom appear during
the Welfare Centre age, that one would like to know if
careful supervision up to five years of age is doing anything
to reduce the incidence of the disease later on.
It seems a pity that mothers of small children have
not the time nor the opportunity to utilise more natural
sunlight during the warmer months. Occasionally I have
been impressed by the healthy brown appearance of children
who have spent much time out of doors in Bethnal Green.
For this reason I believe it would be a great asset to health
if more play and sun-bathing centres could be established
where busy mothers could leave their children for even a
part of the day.
I should like to thank the Superintendent, Dispenser
and Health Visitors for their great help and co-operation.
It is an advantage to be able to refer to them any case
that needs observation.
D. E. Mason.