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the confinement was normal, but prolonged; one case needed
instrumental delivery; one case, acute bronchitis; one case,
pleurisy.
"The work of the Clinic has been carried on under very adverse
surroundings, but we shall soon have an additional room, which
means more comfortable accommodation for the patients awaiting
examination."
Dr. Muncey, in her reference to the great need for dental work
in connection with expectant mothers is voicing a real need which
is equally felt by those who have to deal with nursing mothers and
their children, and Tuberculosis. There is a vast amount of handicapping
and unnecessary suffering, malnutrition and disease,
resulting from the neglect of dental advice and treatment; and so
many Health Authorities are now providing for the services of
Dental Clinics in connection with all the above-mentioned branches
of public health work.
Under paragraph 24 of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Circular of the Local Government Board of the 9th August, 1918,
a grant of half the expenditure on dental treatment is repayable
by the Board, and the Board states that "a dental clinic should,
whenever practicable, be available for expectant and nursing
mothers and for children under five."
In Stoke Newington the establishing of a Dental Clinic would
be a costly method of providing the necessary treatment; and the
most economical method would appear to be either by arranging
with the Education Authority for the use of a joint clinic, or by
making special arrangements with a local dentist, by which he would
treat at his own consulting room patients sent by the Medical Officer
of the Welfare Centres. The latter arrangement would save
all expenses of equipment and maintenance of dental instruments
and appliances, and could be probably be put into operation more
quickly.
THE DAY NURSERY.
The Day Nursery did not escape trouble resulting from the
introduction of infectious disease, but this trouble was less than in
the previous year. The number of children in attendance was