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92
Maternity and Child Welfare Dental Clinic.
In the Child Welfare Clinic much unnecessary work is
caused by the ignorant or perhaps overworked mother who allows
the use of a dummy. This objectionable practice continues,
with the result that many children have a malformed jaw, in,
which the young teeth have no possible chance to grow correctly,
and where the permanent teeth are doomed long before eruption.
In addition, there is the great risk to the general health, for
filth and germs adhere to the soft, sticky surface of the comforter,
where they find an admirable culture medium, and so.,
with these horrible artificial teats, disease gains admittance to
the oral cavity.
A step in the right direction would be the State abolition
of the sale of dummies, but even so, the lazy or ignorant
mother who will not train her child will resort to making sugardummies,
or will even tie a raisin in a piece of rag. Here the
value of Health Week can be appreciated, for at such exhibitions
excellent models and diagrams amply demonstrate the malformation
of jaw, teeth and face caused by this disgusting practice.
The number of patients referred for dental treatment
during the year 1928 is slightly in excess of previous vears.

Baby Week Celebrations.—It was not deemed desirable
this year to hold a Health Week on commercial lines, as was
the case last year. The Council kindly placed at the disposal
of the Special Committee who have charge of Health Week
arrangements the use of the Borough Hall, and, as in former
years, the mothers and children attending the Welfare Centres
— some 1,500 in all — were invited to tea and entertainment
on June 26th, 27th and 28th. The entertainment consisted
of various dancing displays, cinema films, the latter being
kindly loaned to us by the Health and Cleanliness Council,
and community singing. The latter item was very popular
indeed and enthusiastically entered into by all present.