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the subject of education. In this way no time is wasted, for
the mother being anxious, is receptive, and the practical elucidation
of her difficulty becomes her future theory.
Ante-natal Clinic.
The Ante-natal Clinics are growing rapidly. All cases who
have not engaged a doctor for the confinement are examined,
measurements taken and urine tested on the first visit. If there
is any abnormality or if there has been previous difficulty in
labour the patient is referred to a doctor or a lying-in hospital.
Arrangements are made, if desired, for the attendance of the
patients at the North Middlesex Hospital or at a nursing home
or lying-in hospital.
The Municipal Midwife attends Ante-natal Clinics and
undertakes confinements where a full fee is impossible and the
mother unable to have her confinement away from her home.
Advice is given at this Clinic in ante-natal hygiene, clothing,
feeding, care of the breasts and the management of the infant
in the first few weeks of life.
Health Visiting.
This falls under four headings: —
(1) Notified birth visits.
(2) Re-visits to children up to the age of five.
(3) Special visits under the instruction of the Medical
Officer of the Centre to difficult cases of breast feeding, to delicate
or marasmic infants, to mothers who require special and
intense teaching about their children.
(4) In cases where special information is required as to
home conditions which may be affecting the health of the mother
or child.
It is felt that the foundation of preventive work in the
Borough is laid by careful sympathetic visiting in the home.
Excellent work is being done, but much more ground could be
covered with one or two additional visitors.
This is particularly the case with regard to breast feeding.
Where there is difficulty in lactation or failing lactation action
must be taken instantly and advice and assistance given daily,
otherwise within two, or at the most three, days, the infant
is weaned and artificial feeding, usually unsatisfactory, is
substituted.