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128
on fragile human beings. It was necessary for the medical staff to devote
much care to these tiny scraps of life and for the nursing staff to put
forward all its powers. The results were highly satisfactory in almost
all cases. Very good results were obtained by importing breast-milk for
wasting artificially-fed babies. Some of it was supplied by our mothers
living near the Wards, some was kindly sent by our neighbour the Royal
College of St. Katharine, and a considerable amount was obtained from
one of the great hospitals. There is no doubt that several lives were
saved by this means. Other cases, less severe, or at times when breastmilk
could not be obtained, needed very careful artificial feeding. But
with three exceptions all were gradually coaxed on to feeds on which they
were able to gain weight; all were kept in the Wards until they were
in a strong condition with sound digestions, and all were finally sent home
with directions for feeding that their mothers could easily carry out. It
was highly pleasurable to see some of them return some months later for
inspection in excellent condition, having maintained at home the
progress they had begun in the Wards. The three exceptions require
notice. One child was transferred to hospital, when we were very hardpressed
and there was illness among the staff; one, I regret to say,
resisted all our efforts to get him well, and another also succumbed. But
this last was never any more than a forlorn hope; he was almost at
death's door when admitted, having only recently come out of hospital
and relapsed alarmingly when he had got home. It was deemed too
risky to send him on the journey back to hospital again and he was taken
in and every effort made to revive him. The feeble flame of life flickered
for three days and then, to the bitter disappointment of everyone, went
out. It is some satisfaction to know that nowhere would he have received
more devoted care than at Wellington Road, and nowhere would he have
stood a greater chance of survival.
The summer was warm and genial and there were unlimited opportunities
for administering fresh air and sunshine, which, when all is said,
are the best medicines. I append now a list of In-patients, and
diagnoses:—
Dyspepsia and Failure to Progress in Artificially-fed
Infants 19
Marasmus 4
Coeliac Disease 1
Malnutrition 19