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75
Breast Massage.
Fourteen nursing mothers were referred to the nurses of the Metropolitan
Nursing Association for breast massage in order to stimulate the secretion of
breast milk.
In 3 cases, lactation was completely restored.
In 3 cases breast secretion was re-established, but small bottle feeds had to
be given to the baby in addition to the breast; one of these cases was the mother
of twins.
In 3 cases the function was re-established for a short time only to be lost
again.
In 4 cases the massage *was quite unsuccessful.
In one case no further information could be obtained.
diarrhoea.
During the year an effort was made to classify the cases of diarrhoea occurring
in children attending at 10, John Street.
The classification used was as follows:—
(i.) Simple diarrhoea.
(ii.) Summer diarrhoea.
(a) Ordinary summer diarrhoea; some disturbance of the heat regulating
mechanism together with digestive disturbance of greater or less
severity.
(b) Ileocolitis with blood and mucus in the stools (Dr. H. Charles
Cameron's Group B comprising cases of acute catarrhal follicular or
ulcerative colitis).
(iii.) Heatstroke in which cerebro-spinal symptoms are the most
prominent.
The attacks of children suffering from diarrhœa were so analysed; 31 suffered
from simple diarrhoea, 8 from ordinary summer diarrhoea. Two children had more
than one attack, viz:—
A.G. July 9th Simple d. July 23rd Simple d.
E.F. September Simple d. October Summer d.
Stillbirths.
During 1924 there were 18 stillbirths in the district. Difficult labour was
responsible for 7; of these 1 was due to contracted pelvis and 2 to abnormal
presentation; in the remaining 4 enquiry did not elicit the determining
factor. Of the other 11 prematurity was the most likely cause of 2 (twins);
maceration of 1, and placenta praevia of 1. Less definite information could be
obtained in regard to the other stillbirths; in 1 case the child was reported to have
been dead for a week; in 4 others the parent was unable to give any information
which could be used in assigning a probable cause; in the remaining 2, no
information could be obtained.