View report page

21
They have attracted much interest and have won general approval. Originally they
served for investigation only, but they have now become centres for treatment also.
Vitamin concentrates and other remedies are now supplied, so that specific deficiencies
can be corrected by appropriate supplements.
Their influence as centres of research is extending into the surrounding schools,
and short accounts of investigations in schools carried out by physicians attached to
the centres are given later in this section. An interesting offshoot of the work at the
Hoxton nutrition centre is described by the divisional treatment organiser:—
A meeting of voluntary workers in the Hoxton area was held before Christmas and was
addressed by Dr. Gourlay, of the Hoxton nutrition centre. The suggestion was made that a
cookery class should be started for the mothers attending the nutrition department where instruction
could be given on very simple lines for the preparation of suitable meals for a family income
of about 5s. per person per week. The assistance of an evening institute was sought and as a
result a meeting of officials and parents was held at Hoxton House on 22nd February.
There were enough parents present, together with promises of co.operation from others,
to warrant the starting of a cookery class. At the meeting, which was attended
by the head of the evening institute, the care committee secretary, two teachers from a neighbouring
school, Dr. Gourlay and the assistant organiser from the nutrition centre, the parents
decided what sort of things they would like to learn, and they were promised that the course
would be one which would be suitable to their modest incomes. It is proposed to cook things
which can be taken home for the family supper, or which can be used for the next day's dinner.
Dr. Gourlay is to co.operate with the cookery mistress with a view to seeing that the meals are
well.balanced from a dietetic point of view.
Valuable detailed reports have been received from the medical officers in charge
of the centres, extracts from which are appended.
It is impossible not to be impressed with the complexity of the conditions which
are being studied. In the poorer areas, like Poplar and Hoxton, economic questions
predominate, but in other areas it is clear that there are "problem" children physically
as there are "problem" children psychologically speaking, and that the two
problem complexes are often intertwined.
All the medical officers speak in the highest terms of the help of the nurses and
care committee workers, and, above all, of the children's care organisers, who spare
no pains over the following.up of the cases and to whose efforts much of the successful
work is attributable.
Two hundred and eighty.eight children attending the centres were sent for
a period of convalescence in the country or at the seaside, and 54 additional children
were sent for a country holiday.
The following report has been received from Dr. Batten, of the Paddington
centre:—
During the year 52 new cases were seen and 65 old cases kept under observation.
Thirty.two children were discharged after periods of observation long enough to ensure
that their progress was satisfactory, and one was discharged on account of the parents' refusal
to accept every suggestion made for assistance or treatment.