View report page

25
The above table and preceding remarks suggest that the
present designation of the Clinic might merit some change. The
majority of swellings are non-malignant, and in comparatively few
cases of cancer is a noticeable swelling an early sign of disease.
Swellings in the breast in the case of women are exceptions
as they are always suspect, and cancerous conditions of breast
and uterus seem to bulk largely in incidence of malignancy in
females. Both conditions tend to appear in decades following
childbearing period and it is suggested that special facilities for
examination and advice might be afforded to womon say between
tho ages of 40 and 60 years.
The question of making malignant disease notifiable is aga:n
receiving consideration in various quarters. It is pointed out that
undor the present circumstances, the only information a Medical
Officer of Health obtains is from the death returns. He gains no
knowledge of the incidence of the disease, effect of treatment,
recovery rates or possible predisposing factors.
MATERNITY AND CHILD WELFARE.
There has been no material change in the Council's Maternity
and Child Welfare Scheme. The Scheme, indeed is practically
complete, including as it does Ante-natal and Post-natal Clinics,
Maternity Home, Infant Welfare Centres, Birth Control Clinic,
Artificial Sunlight Centres, Dental Clinic, Hospital provision for
the treatment of Minor Ailments and Orthopcedic treatment,
Home Visiting by Health Visitors, Convalescent treatment for
Mothers and Infants, Home Nursing Services, the Supply of Dinners
and Milk to Nursing and Expectant Mothers in necessitous circumstances,
Consultant services for general practitioners requiring
assistance in difficult cases during confinement, etc.
Infant Welfare Centres.—The Borough has been divided
into 5 areas with an Infant Welfare Centre in each which is easily
accessible to all mothers living in the District.
During the year two new Combined Infant Welfare and
Artificial Sunlight Centres were opened, one at Charlton Lane to
replace the rooms occupied at Charlton Vale Wesleyan Sunday
School and the other at Creek Road in place of the Centre held
at Armada Street. These new centres are examples of the best
modern ideas in Infant Welfare work, both as regards the design
of the buildings and their equipment. They each provide facilities
for Ante-natal, and Post-natal examinations, as well as Infant