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directions. Steps are also taken to obtain additional food for mothers
both before and after birth, where it appears to be required. Pre-natal
visiting, it is hoped, will have the effect of reducing the number of
stillbirths, and of infants who are born in a feeble state of health. If
the children are to be strong, it is essential that the mothers should
be healthy.
Medical Inspection of Children under School Age.—Under the
auspices of the Health Society, a scheme was inaugurated in January,
1912, to provide for the periodic medical inspection of children in the
northern (Soho) half of the City, under the supervision of Dr David
Forsyth, assisted by a trained nurse and members of the Society.
The general approval which this experiment received, induced the
Society to open a second centre at the Health Office, 1, Pimlico Road,
for the southern part of the city under the supervision of Dr. R. C.
Jewesbury.
The method adopted is to get in touch with the mothers through the
home visiting. They are invited to bring their children to the Centre to
have them examined, and receive such advice as may be necessary as
to feeding, clothing, &c. Any defects which are discovered are noted
so that suitable treatment may be obtained, and any tendency to the
development of defects is pointed out, and advice given as to how they
may be prevented. Mothers are advised to bring their children regularly
for re-inspection, the interval depending on the state of the child's
health, and in the meantime the health visitors keeping in touch with
the homes, ensure that the medical advice is not forgotten.
In the year 1913, the total number of children examined for the first
time was 873 (45 being over 5 years of age), and 730 re-inspections
were made. At the North Centre, the children attending are of many
nationalities and races, while at the south they are nearly all of British
extraction. A much larger proportion of the former required to have
some alteration in the method of feeding than of the latter, where the
percentage was 30 per cent.