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The one outstanding feature of the Clinic has been the
lurking fear of "Cancer" seen in the eyes of many of the
patients and the very evident relief experienced when they are
informed that the condition is not malignant, would seem from
this point of view alone, more than sufficient to justify the
existence of the Clinic.
The Clinic has been "approved" for another year. The
problem before us is how to make its existence more widely
known and how to keep the public interested in its objects. It
is difficult to see how the methods of propaganda described above
can be improved upon; at any rate for the present we are
constrained to rely upon them as our chief aids.
PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF.
There was only one change in the personnel of the Department
during the year.
Dr. G. J. Sophian, who had been Maternity and Child
Welfare Medical Officer since April, 1923, resigned in October,
and was succeeded by Dr. Janet M. Morton.
Professional Nursing in the Home.
(a) General. No provision is made by the Council.
(b) For Infectious Diseases. Arrangements are made with
the Blackheath and Charlton District Nursing Association: St.
John the Divine Home, Deptford. and the Ranyard Nurses for
nursing selected cases of Measles, Ophthalmia Neonatorum,
Influenza, Dysentery, Epidemic Diarrhœa, Malaria and Pneumonia,
upon an intimation from the Public Health Department.
The Council's Health Visitors also give advice and assist as far
as possible.
Midwives.—No district midwives are employed or subsidised
by the Council. There are 30 practising in the district.
Laboratorv Work.—The long-standing arrangement with
the Bacteriological Department of the Seamen's Hospital has been
in force throughout the year, whereby that Institution carried out
all necessary pathological and bacteriological work for this
Department, other than under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act,
and in this connection 3,001 specimens have been examined for
Diphtheria, 15 for Typhoid Fever, 376 for Tuberculosis, and 69
for other various conditions.
Fuller details respecting results of the examinations of
these specimens will be found under the different headings of
the individual diseases.