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[1928
19
irritability 9, a total of 398; Mothers—nursing and ailing 92, expectant 53, a total
of 145. Total treatments by "Light"—children and mothers, 643. Both
children and mothers received three treatments a week from a carbon arc lamp,
the exposure beginning with two or three minutes, and being gradually increased
to twenty minutes. A very few had treatments varying from half an hour to an
hour. In suitable weather, in addition, the children are exposed to the actual rays
of the sun, with the effect that their bodies became much browner. It is stated
that very good results have been obtained with catarrhal children and rickety
children by treating with the Carbon Arc twice weekly before exposure to the
Mercury Vapour lamp. The Medical Officers state that they are impressed with
the results of the treatment, the appetites are improved, there is increased vitality
and contentedness. The number of attendances have largely increased this year.
An endeavour has been made at this Centre to enlist the aid of mothers in
keeping records where "Test-feeds" are being used. One test-feed at the Centre,
was an insufficient guide to the Medical Officers of the mother's capacity to feed
her child. In 58 of the cases the mothers were found to have kept the record?,
satisfactorily. From these records are calculated the average amount of milk
obtained by the child in 24 hours, and the doctor is able to judge with more
accuracy what supplementary feeds are required, and whether it is necessary that
the child should be weaned. In connection with this scheme six scales were lent
out for use at home. These were lent 77 times. In 33 cases supplementary
feeding was shown to be necessary, in 26 the breast milk was shown to be
sufficient, 13 cases were weaned, and in 5 cases the scales were still on loan.
The Infant Welfare Wards.—The number of beds is 12 for children under
two years of age and 6 for three mothers and their babies, a total of 18 beds.
From the 1st April, 1928, to the 31st March, 1929, a total of 49 cases were treated
—Babies: Malnutrition 13, Dietetic trouble 24, Education 18, Observation 6,
Rickets 3, Babies with mothers 46; Mothers: Restoration of failing breast milk
and Education 19, Restoration of failing breast milk and observation 20. The
average number of days per patient, 40.19; the maximum 217, and the minimum 2.
There was one death from gastric enteritis, aged 15 weeks, of a child under
treatment for 27 days. 12 cases are reported as having been discharged without
improvement, 100 in good health, 30 improved, and there were 7 still in residence
at the end of the year.
"Health Week."—During "Health Week" at this Centre there were short
talks on the "Value of Ante-natal Care," given in the afternoons, Tuesday to
Friday (inclusive).
South Centre: New Buildings.—An extension of this Centre by utilising the
ground of the back garden has been completed. This consists of Doctors' Consulting
Rooms, Waiting and Weighing Rooms, Dispensaries, Dressings Room, Sister's
Office and a Special Room. These are all on the ground floor, while the first floor
is now used as follows:—Staff Sitting-room, Committee Room, and Voluntary
Workers' Cloak Room, etc. The second floor provides a small flat for the housekeeper.
A further lease of forty years was granted by the ground landlord (Lord
Northampton), and the approval of the Ministry of Health was obtained. For five
months during this construction the work of the Centre was carried on in spite
of the great inconvenience of the building operations. (The new premises weie
opened by H.R.H. Princess Mary in June 1929.) The new building is proving a
great help in increasing the efficiency of the Clinic, especially its Ante-natal Department.