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63
With regard to children, 25 were sent to the
Hertfordshire County Council's Home at St.
Leonard's-on-Sea, Sussex, for periods varying from
1 to 10 weeks. We have also an arrangement with the
Association of Maternity and Child Welfare Centres
for the reservation of 3 cots to be used interchangeably
at the John Madocks Babies Home, Basing,
and the Noel Home, Letchworth. Under this
arrangement 15 children were sent to the Noel Home,
for periods of 4 to 10 weeks, and 2 children to the
John Madocks Home, for periods of 3 and 9 weeks
respectively.
Dr. Horton reports on this subject :
During the year there have been three Convalescent
Homes to which children can be referred by the Medical
Officers. The total number sent away is no indication of
those for whom the doctors would have ordered this treatment.
For a variety of reasons parents refuse to allow the
children to go, the underlying principle of them all being
that they cannot part with the children. Two of the
Homes had to close temporarily during the summer, one in
July and one in September, two of the most useful months
for such treatment owing to their long hours of sunshine.
A good feature of the work this year has been the extension
of the customary three or four weeks' stay in the country.
This enables a debilitated child to become a healthy, happy
one before it returns home. It is hoped that this may become
a more frequent practice this year.
Clinical Analysis of Children's Cases:—
Malnutrition 8
Under Weight 7
Anorexia 2
Nervous Instability 5
Debility after Whooping Cough 7
,, ,, Diphtheria 3
„ „ Tonsillitis 1
„ „ Tonsillectomy 6
„ „ Arthrectomy 1
Recurrent Styes 2
Otorrhoea 1
Appendicitis 1
Recurrent Bronchitis 7
Bronchial Asthma 1