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61
a purely individual character; an error of nature converting a physiological
function into a pathological catastrophe. In the five fatal cases
under careful supervision from the first there was no malnutrition, poverty
or bad housing as indirect factors. The truth still lies hidden among the
many unknown influences which transform the healthy body to one of
disease.
Notes by the Medical Officers at the Council's Maternity and Child
Welfare Centres.
Infant Welfare Centre, Marshall Street. Dr. A. Doyne Bell.
The area of the City of Westminster which is served by the Marshall Street Centre
is so built up in character that it cannot be considered ideal for the upbringing of
young children. It has been our aim in the centre for many years now to stimulate
in the parents an interest in all aspects of mothercraft, including the importance of
healthy housing conditions. This aim has been chiefly furthered by the unremitting
efforts of the health visitors during their visits to the families in their homes. There
is a welcome tendency among families who hitherto would have been content to dwell
in this somewhat congested district to take advantage of housing developments
further afield and thus enjoy more open air conditions and the extra space for play
and exercise which suburban housing estates provide.
All the same, there is no lack of important work still to be done among those
families who for various reasons have to live in this area. The work of any welfare
centre is essentially preventive. In the past, much attention was paid to diseases
caused by gross errors in feeding, but a more widespread appreciation of the
importance of dietetic hygiene has made these diseases less common. Foremost
amon g our present-day problems is that of respiratory infections, both chronic and
mildly acute, and the study of these disabling conditions from the preventive aspect
is likely to yield one of the most fruitful contributions that the Welfare Centre can
make to the betterment of the health of the rising generation. The predisposing
factors of respiratory infections in young children are certainly multiple ; malnutrition,
faulty posture, over-crowded living conditions, all are contributory, and
the social worker no less than the medical officer, plays a part in their investigation
and prevention. I therefore count myself lucky in working with health visitors who
fully realise the nature of the problem which confronts us jointly.
A. Doyne Bell.
Ebury Bridge and Bessborough Street Infant Welfares Centres.
Dr. George Ormiston.
During 1937 mothers and others in charge of infants became well adapted to the
modern methods of feeding now in use at the above welfare centres. These methods
include the graduated introduction of solid foods in suitable form from the fourth
month of life onwards, close attention being paid to the vitamin intake in accordance
with the newer knowledge.