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Out-patients.—The number of children attending as Out-patients was
sixty-nine. The number of actual attendances made by them was
five hundred and thirty-five. The nature of the cases was as follows:—
(i) Difficulties in Breast-feeding 34
(ii) Difficulties in Artificial-feeding 7
(iii) Nervous Unrest 1
(iv) Malnutrition of obscure origin 1
(v) Single Consultations 26
69
Difficulties in Breast-feeding were the main part of the Out-patient
work. The mothers were desired if possible to bring their infants up at
frequent intervals, in order that the secretion of milk could be watched
and the feeding correctly adjusted. Many of the difficulties, such as poor
suction, are difficult to overcome and need a lot of patience. Naturally
the ideal aimed at was to restore perfectly normal feeding in each case.
This was done in a fair proportion of cases; in most of the others that
attended properly the feeding was satisfactorily adjusted on a scientific
basis, with a fair certainty that partial breast-feeding would be maintained
afterwards. A few were prevented from coming by some outside cause,
and there were some who grew tired of giving the time and labour
necessary.
These are the results obtained:—
Complete Re-establishment of Normal Breast-feeding
12
Partial Re-establishment with Correct Supplementary
feeding
10
No Re-establishment
5
Failed to complete attendances
7
34
A more detailed account of the single consultations may be of interest.
Most of them came up simply for an opinion. In some others a more
prolonged course of observation was considered at the outset, but it was
soon discovered on examination that simple treatment would put them