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39
3 per cent. have chronic diseases of the external eye, 3 per cent.
have ear disease, 52 per cent. have decayed teeth, 16 per centenlarged
tonsils, 6 per cent. adenoids, 4 per cent. rickets, and so on.
Most of these defects, especially ear and eye trouble, are easy to
remedy at their beginning, but if neglected they are exceedingly
difficult to treat efficiently, and result in a large amount of unnecessary
suffering and disability. By the time these children reach
school age, these conditions are already chronic, and the Education
Authority is at considerable trouble and expense to remedy them.
In the report of the Medical Officer of Health, an account
will be found of the work done among children under one year. An
attempt is now being made to bridge the gulf between one and
five, and if possible prevent some of this unnecessary and wasteful
suffering. This has been done in two ways. In the first place,
the Committee of the Creche kindly considered a suggestion from
the Medical Officers, and raised the age limit from four to five.
It is now possible for a child to remain under trained supervision
at the creche till he enters school, whereas before there was a
year in which he was obliged to go to a "baby minder," or be
left in charge of an older child.
Secondly, the mothers who attend the Babies' Welcome are
urged to continue attendance at regular intervals till the child
reaches school age, and they are invited to bring any other children
they have, not yet attending school. These children are weighed
regularly, and one of the Medical Officers present at the Welcome
is able to give advice on health matters.
This Babies' Welcome has only been working a year, and
the last development a little under three months, but already 34
children between 1 and 5 are under supervision. Of course, only
the mothers who are careful and anxious about their children will
take the trouble to bring their little ones to the Welcome, but on
the other hand, these are the very mothers who will carry out
medical advice, and so prevent the development of chronic conditions.
Already several mothers have obtained needed treatment
in consequence of the advice given, e.g., early squints have been
taken to hospital and had glasses fitted, slight cases of rickets
have had special diet, and so on.