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(g) Treatment of minor ailments in children under school age.
(h) Special items such as umbilical belts provided in necessitous
cases through the Barlow Charity.
(i) Physical Improvement Classes for children from 2 to 5 years.
It might be added that even in cases not associated with the welfare
centres expert obstetric assistance is available for all medical practitioners
requiring it in abnormal confinements and likewise for all private practising
midwives in similar circumstances.
The physical culture classes are an innovation which has proved
popular with the mothers who usually attend to see their children carrying
out the exercises. Even the youngest children enjoy acting in unison with
the others through the enthusiastic leadership of the instructress.
Exercises which are carried out in play, copying the instructress, are
designed to improve muscular tone and co-ordination and are specially
for the round shouldered or flatfooted child, and also the thin or over
fat child with undeveloped muscles. Other children are also admitted
where there is room in the classes for them.
Treatment of Minor Ailments in Children of Pre-School Age.—The
City Council in 1936 entered into an arrangement with the London
County Council whereby children under school age attending the Council's
and the Westminster Health Society's Centres found to be suffering from
minor ailments, such as discharging ears, external eye diseases, such as
blepharitis and conjunctivitis, and skin diseases, such as impetigo and sores,
can be referred to certain school clinics in the City for treatment, the City
Council paying the County Council for these services an agreed sum per
case treated The City Council also made provision for the treatment
of ear, nose and throat affections in such children at the Ear, Nose and
Throat Hospital, Golden Square, and the Infants Hospital, Vincent
Square.
Consulting Centre.—The need had for some time been felt for a
consulting centre where children could be referred by the medical officers
at the Council's and the Health Society's Infant Welfare Centres for
special examinations, and arrangements were made with the Infants
Hospital, Vincent Square, for this purpose.