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57
[1912
measles and consumption, and children who are reported by the School Medical
Officers or teachers to be in an uncleanly condition. They are responsible for
propaganda work in connection with epidemics of summer diarrhoea, whooping
cough, etc., and do in these and other ways a great deal of good to raise the
standard of home care in the poorest districts of the City. In addition, in
one of the most crowded wards of the City, a woman doctor, assisted by a
special staff of Health Visitors, keeps watch on every infant during the first
twelve months of its life. Infant consultations are held weekly, when the
babes are weighed, medical advice given, and the progress of mother and child
is noted."
Then Miss Matheson proceeds to tell us what is done by the Education
Committee of the Council, and how it has established a municipal system of
medical care, so that the children's teeth, eyes, tonsils, throat and skin are
looked after; how the 'Children's Court,' the pioneer in this country, was
established in 1905; how the voluntary institutions look after the crippled
children; how the working people themselves out of their Hospital Saturday
Fund maintain a free convalescent home for children; how 'Schools for
mothers' have been established in two of the most unhealthy wards, and that
the Health Committee contribute to their upkeep; how the Charity Organisation
Society combines with the Women's Settlement to work three Committees
which deal only with cases of children requiring medical help, and arrangements
for hospital treatment, etc., are made for many who would not otherwise
succeed in obtaining help. Finally Miss Matheson says in closing her most
interesting paper; "Space forbids a complete enumeration of the children's
agencies, but the above sketch may suffice to prove that Birmingham is not
behind other cities in concern for the welfare of the children. A great deal
remains to be done, and there are astonishingly many children who are at
present not reached; but help is promised in some directions, and for the rest
we look to the city and the university to stimulate the sense of public responsibility
and to give a civic education to the citizens."
In all earnestness the Medical Officer of Health asks the members of his
Council to contrast the work that is done in Birmingham with what is done
here, which is nothing, and then to put to themselves the plain question, "Are
we dealing fairly with our children ? "
Particulars of the mortalities which have obtained in the various parts of
the Borough are to be seen in the following statement:—