London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Holborn 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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St. Giles' Centre, Short's Gardens.
The attendances at this Branch Centre during the year 1927, were as follows:—
| Monday 2-5.30 p.m | Thursday Medical Consultation 2-5.30 p.m. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class. | Children weighed. | |||
| No. of Sessions | 47 | 47 | 52 | |
| Total attendances— | ||||
| Children | — | 99 | 526 | |
| Mothers | 167 | — | 47 | |
| Average weekly attendances— | ||||
| Children | — | 2 | 10 | |
| Mothers | 4 | — | 1 | |
The total number of attendances made by the Health Visitors at the Centres
in 1927 was 403.
At the Holborn Centre, No. 10, John Street, 4,988 attendances were made by
a number of mothers, including 50 expectant mothers, and 497 children, of whom
279 were under one year, 69 between one and two years old, and 149 aged 2-5
years on the date of their first attendance.
At the St. Giles' Centre, Short's Gardens, 839 attendances were made by 34
mothers and 112 children, of whom 54 were under one year, 21 from one to two
years and 37 between two and five years.
The attention of mothers of bottle fed infants is drawn to the necessity of
supplying vitamin C in the diet by the giving of fruit juice daily in suitable
quantities; orange or tomato juice is advised as a rule.
For some years, both in the home and at the Centres, we have made use of
simple leaflets dealing with the hygiene of infancy and maternity, and have hung
the walls of the Centres with pictures and mottoes to give point to our teaching
and to draw attention to the series of leaflets.
At one time leaflets were received with indifference, but in the past year the
demand for these has grown remarkably and there are signs that they are much
appreciated and have been of real service to those using them.
In addition to the health talk, assistance is given in the cutting out of
garments; patterns of the most suitable woven garments are given away, also
directions for making knitted garments and advice as to the choice of suitable
materials.
The model garments used for demonstration were overhauled during the year,
obsolete types being withdrawn and replaced by modern ones.
Three hundred and sixty-nine hanks of wool of a special quality obtained
from Wales were sold at cost price to the value of £19. 18s. 10½d.
The maternity bags have been used during the year by two mothers.
A by no means inconsiderable area of the Borough is occupied by a settlement
of Italian people known as the Italian Colony. Many of these cannot speak or
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