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63
The babies were drawn from the part of the district which
has always had an excessive infantile mortality, and even some
of the prize-winners came from streets where efforts are necessary
to raise the standard of personal hygiene. It was evident that
a large amount of intelligent care and attention had been paid
to the upbringing of the children. The condition of the children
and the character of their clothing made it obvious that the care
had been a continuous one, and not a special preparation for the
occasion.
Although the fuuction was carried out with the sanction of
the Council, it was a private and voluntary affair as far as management
and finance were concerned. Miss Smee, the Chairman of
the Health Committee, made herself financially responsible, and
though she was supported by the members of the Council, both
financially and otherwise, its success was due to her initiative
and whole-hearted support.
As previously stated, these consultations were primarily
started for the purpose of giving advice to mothers in the rearing
of infants, and during the summer months, for instance, Dr.
Chubb spoke to the mothers of the special dangers and procautions
to be taken to avoid diarrhceal and other digestive
diseases in warm weather. These talks were specially helpful
to the mothers and fruitful of good. But it is felt that a large
field is open in the direction of remedying some unhealthy antenatal
conditions, and it is hoped by some means to reach some
of the expectant mothers. As a sanitary authority, the means
at our disposal and our powers are limited, but in some districts,
through voluntary agencies, prematernity work has been commenced
and a pre-natal campaign has been organised. The inquirer
is in a position to fill in the details and to estimate the
hopefulness of attempts which have as their first aim the making
of the surroundings of the unborn infant healthy and healthgiving.
The environment of the unborn infant is his mother, and
the health reformer looks forward hopefully to the improvement
in the health of the infant at birth which must follow upon the
making of his ante-natal maternal environment all it ought to be.