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122
prescribed, this must be considered disappointing. Partly it is due
to a failure of the parents to avail themselves of all the help at their
disposal; but there is another fruitful source. Far too much cereal food
is still eaten by young children. It is now a well-established fact that
cereals in the diet are directly antagonistic to the proper formation of
teeth and bones. This has been shown by experiments on animals and by
elaborate investigations on children themselves. Nature has also performed
the experiment in certain districts where the conditions are poor,
the climate dark and porridge freely eaten, and rickets consequently very
rife. These facts are common knowledge, and yet I still see large numbers
of children in Poplar who are given oats for breakfast. It is difficult to
do without cereals altogether; bread in most households is a necessity;
but at least no other cereal should be given, especially oats, which are
known to be the most harmful. First class protein and animal fats are
the best substances with which to begin the day, butter, dripping and
fat fish such as herring, none of which are dear. Potato cakes are cheap
and easily made and diminish the amount of cereal. Where they can be
afforded eggs should be given. If a concerted effort was made by the
Medical Officers and Health Visitors in this direction many bad teeth
and bow legs would be saved.
Out-patients.
Number of New Patients 154
Total Attendances as Out-patients 275
The new cases were made up as follows:—
Cases for Admission 57
Difficulty in Breast-feeding 62
Difficulty in Bottle-feeding 13
Cases for Consultation 22
154
Help in breast-feeding is one of the most important activities undertaken
at the Wards. As many as possible are got back to pure breastfeeding.
Those who cannot are given every aid to increase their breastmilk
as much as possible. The results were:—