View report page

51
among young children attending the Clinic is insufficient
sleep. Not infrequently this is due to the parents inability
to go out together without dragging the children with them
—and perhaps every Saturday and Sunday the children.s
bed.time may be. from 9 to 11 p.m. One wonders whether
some scheme could not be devised whereby a school hall,
and playground might be set aside, perhaps on Saturday and
Sunday afternoons, for young children in order to free the
parents for a few hours. It seems very probable that vol—
untary helpers might be obtainable to assist in looking after
the children, and undler such ciroumstaraces expenses need
not be large.
In the past year the proportion of infants referred to
the Clinic, as compared with the number of toddllers, has
been smaller than in many previous years. As in the past,
the majority of the patients have been children making poor
progress or those suffering from recurrent bacterial infections.
The Health Visitors ready help and co.operation
constantly enable patients. difficulties to be dealt with suc—
cessfully, and mothers appear to be more ready to profit
from their help year by year.
The figures for the past year are : —
New Cases 119 ) Total
Subsequent attendances 469 I attendance 588
Consultations 562
H. M. M. Mackay.
PROPHYLACTIC LIGHT CLINIC.
I append the report of Dr. K. M. Horton, who
3onducts the Prophylactic Light Clinic: —
Both Ultra.violet ray lamps have been in constant use
during the year, treatment being given under the super—
vision of Dr. Mart until November. Three sessions are
held weekly and nearly three hundred patients attended
the Clinic, referred from the Ante.natal and Child Welfare
Clinics, from Dr. Mackay.s Clinic and from the Bethnal
Green Day Nursery, Somerford Street.
An analysis of cases is given below. Rickets was again
the largest group, being followed by General Debility and
Recurrent Bronchitis, this third group usually receiving
Inhalation treatment at the same time. Ultra.violet ray
therapy seems particularly useful to another considerable
group of patients, those children who are recently recovered