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51
with the Association for Maternity and Child Welfare
were kept full practically the whole year and in
addition several other homes were used. There
were many cases of extended treatment beyond the
usual four weeks because of acute debility in the first
place, illnesses contracted at the home, and contact
with others suffering from an infectious disease.
At the end of the year there were 18 children away
because homes were in quarantine for different
reasons ; and ten others for illnesses and debility.
HOSPITAL TREATMENT FOR
MALNUTRITION.
We have no formal arrangement for prolonged
observation and in-patient treatment for children
suffering from dietetic mismanagement and malnutrition.
The Council has, however, occasionally paid
for the treatment of Bethnal Green children in the
St. Thomas's Babies Hostel.
PROVISION OF MILK FOR NECESSITOUS
MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
The prevalence of unemployment and low wages
among the residents in the Borough, to which reference
has been made elsewhere, makes it specially
necessary to care for the nutrition of mothers and
children, expectant and nursing mothers and young
children under 5.
The Council's grants of milk to necessitous
expectant and nursing mothers and young children
under five years are made for a period of 4 weeks
at the end of which the mother has to re-apply.
During the year 9,569 grants were made arising out
of 6,972 family applications and re-applications.
The grants were made up as follows :
Expectant mothers 684
Nursing mothers 1,102
Children under 3 6,240
Children 3-5 1,543