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17
Under-nourishment, lack of sleep and exercise, insanitary surroundings,
these and other factors influence profoundly the
health of the unborn child, and it is to remedy adverse conditions
and to give the mother and baby every possible chance that
our ante-natal sessions, conducted by Dr. Jessie Muir, have
been established. Four of these sessions are held every month
at Brook Road Centre and two every month at Wightman Road
Centre, and last year Dr. Muir gave advice to mothers, who made
738 attendances at these sessions. I have pointed out earlier
in this Report that the majority of the deaths of little children
are due, not to disease contracted after birth, but to adverse
conditions before the child was born. Extension of these antenatal
sessions is wanted so that more and more mothers may
be able to receive advice during their pregnancy. It is pleasant
to note that both doctors and midwives practising in the Borough
have sent their ante-natal cases to our Centres for advice.
Natal Work.—The Town Council employs a Midwife, who
works mainly in the Campsbourne area of the Borough. Her
work is greatly appreciated and her services are eagerly sought.
The Borough Midwife was appointed in 1921, and, starting
work in October, she attended 2 confinements to the end of the
year. In 1922 she attended 41 cases; in 1923, 60 cases, and in
1924, 79 cases, these figures alone speaking for the increasing
popularity of this valuable service. In addition, during 1924
the Midwife attended 60 ante-natal Clinic sessions, and paid
212 ante-natal visits and 197 post-natal visits.
Post-natal.—Sessions are held at Brook Road Centre every
Wednesday and Friday and at Wightman Road Centre every
Tuesday for the purpose of giving advice to mothers regarding
the health of their young children. Dr. Flora Shepherd conducts
these infant consultations and is "snowed under" with
work. Indeed, during the year she has herself paid lady medical
colleagues to come and help her so that the work should not
accumulate too greatly. An additional session a week is therefore
urgently required, and the Ministry of Health was asked
to sanction this. The approval of the Ministry was given in
December.
Regarding the value and popularity of this work, I do not
believe that there is anything undertaken by the Hornsey Town
Council, with the possible exception of elementary education,