View report page

24
Percentage of Children attending Centres.—It is found
that 35 per cent. of the mothers of all children visited at birth
bring their children for weighing and consultation in the Brook
Road area, and 52 per cent. in the Harringay area.. The more
intelligent the population the higher the percentage seeking ad
vice. This must be so unless the mothers are encouraged to
bring their children for ailments. The whole aim of the world
is, however, prevention cf illness and the raising of the health
standard. To achieve this each mother must have free access
to skilled advice during the upbringing of one child, and she must
learn from skilled authority to recognise the abnormal and
subnormal in infant and child physique. This the woman of
average intelligence will learn in two years, and, having once
learned it, she is a valuable asset in the scheme of prevention
as unconsciously she teaches wherever she goes.
Medical Consultations.—The children are seen at all
medical consultations which are as follows:—
1. All new entrants.
2. All children under one year—monthly.
3. Children 1-2—quarterly.
4. Children 2-5—half-yearly.
5. Children suffering from sub-normal health and who are
put by the Doctor on a special list are seen weekly or fort
nightly.
6. Children discovered by Health Visitors to be in sub
normal health.
7. Children making a first appearance after absence due to
illness, e.g., measles, whooping cough, etc.
A special report on physique is made at entrance, at seven
months, at eighteen months, and at each subsequent birthday
It is found that vary little attention is needed for the breast
fed infants up to the time of weaning, but that in 30 per cent
of these children it is necessary to give weekly medical advice
during weaning. An unwise introduction to a mixed diet is
frequently the cause of digestive difficulties, arrested growth
dental defects and rooted dislikes and distastes for certain articles
of food. I consider that for the normal child the a.ge from eight