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1925
40
During the year the health visitors paid 336 visits to expectant
mothers; of these 232 were first visits, that is 232 expectant
mothers were seen during the year.
From time to time, we have circularised the mid-wives. In
spite of these activities only 82 expectant mothers attended the
Ante-natal Clinic. The Clinic is held every other Wednesday
morning at the School Clinic premises, and Dr. Bell is the consultant
in attendance. The average attendance at the Clinic was five
Per session.
In the 5 years under review, probably the greatest advance
in Maternity and Child Welfare has been the closer co-ordination
of the School Medical Work, and the Child Welfare Work.
From the commencement there has been close co-operation between
the two services, but the establishment of the School
medical service has materially affected the trend of preventive
Medicine as a whole, and of infant welfare in particular. The number
of defects found in children entering school showed that prevention
must begin not only in childhood but in infancy and even in
Maternity. It became necessary to link the two services together.
Miss Loretz. the school dental surgeon talks occasionally to
the mothers about the preservation of the children's teeth, and
the leaflets issued to the school children are distributed at the
Centres. By arrangement with the Education Committee, the
mothers and children from the centres are treated by the school
dentist, and last year the following number of mothers and children
were inspected and treated under the Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme:—
Inspected Referred, for Treatment Treated
Mothers 35 35 24
Children 109 101 73
Fillings Extractions
Permanent teeth 25 Permanent Teeth 127
Temporary teeth 196 Temporary teeth 164
Total 221 Total 291