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19
1927
though that is enormous, but to enable a mother to breast-feed her baby when
she could not otherwise have done so, is of national importance, both from a
social and economic standpoint. It is better for the child and for the
mother, gives the future citizen a better start in life, and makes for more normal
maternal health. There are, of course, cases where suckling is not good for
either mother or child, but they are very rare, and it is part of child welfare
work to make them even more rare than they are. It is unnecessary to dilate
on the benefits of breast-feeding. The educative side of the test-feeding days is
of supreme importance. Our very able Superintendent is most expert at this real
education, this drawing out of the power of the mother to do all for her baby as
she sees it demonstrated and is taught at the Centre."
Through the agency of the Centre and special donations given for the purpose,
67 mothers and 140 children were sent into the country for holidays and
convalescence. This was accomplished through the generosity of the various
institutions which have convalescence arrangements who very kindly gave
facilities to the Centre's cases.
The Centre was visited on the 8th July by 25 delegates from the National
Conference on Maternity and Child Welfare.
One of the original founders of the Centre, Lady Henry, a Vice-President,
died during the year, and the Centre lost Dr.J. Lorimore Hawthorne, their
energetic Medical Officer, who resigned through ill-health.
During the year under review Dr. Gaffikin gave two interesting lectures on
how to keep fit. Mothercroft lectures were also given during the winter, while
Dr. Naomi Dancy gave a lecture in the Drayton Hall during "Health Week"
under the auspices of the Health and Cleanliness Council.
West Centre.—The outstanding feature of the activities of this Centre was
the starting of a new Branch at Goodinge Road in St. Luke's Mission Hall on
the 5th January, 1928. This part of the district has always been difficult to
attract, as the distance is considerable to Richmond Road. A large proportion
of the mothers therefore attending the new centre have never before been to a
Welfare Centre. The numbers at the Centre this year show a slight decrease on
those during the preceding year. This has been accounted for by (i) a drop in
the birth-rate, which automatically reduces the number of new entrants, (ii) the
epidemic of measles which prevented the mothers for many weeks from bringing
their babies to the Centre, and (iii) the bad weather conditions in December.
A Fathers' Council was inaugurated on January 31, 1928—the meetings take
place monthly. Dr. Percy With led a discussion on Vaccination, and Dr.
Octavia Lewin one on Home Hygiene. The fathers showed enthusiasm and
were very ready to join ire the debates.
The "Sunlight" Clinic continues to do useful work among the debilitated
and rickety babies. The number of children dealt with were 92 and the attendances
1,252.
During the year 120 mothers and children were sent for convalescence treatment
and Miss Lee-Warner secured a bed at St. Mary's Home, Birchington, for
the summer. Others were sent through the Centre's Convalescent Fund, with
the help of various institutions.
With regard to the Centre. Ward, many of the babies admitted were seriously
ill, requiring great care on the part of the nursing staff. On two occasions the