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to babies under ] year old, and 7,818 visits were paid to the clinic
by children between 1 and 5 years, compared with 10,295 visits of
infants under 1 year old. In addition we have in the district,
4 nursery classes, which are attended of course by toddlers between
the ages of 3 and 5 years old, and where supervision is exercised.
It cannot therefore be stated that the toddlers are being neglected
in this district. The taunt has frequently been levelled that the
toddlers are not catered for because they come in the period between
the infants' clinic and welfare, and the school medical service.
At the same time, it is admitted that more could be done for the
child in this important epoch of his career, and the difficulty has
been discussed from different angles. Too many physical defects
are found in the entrants when they are medically examined at
school for us to remain complacent. But the difficulty arises
when we try to devise the means by which these facilities can and
will be utilised. It has been suggested that a specail Toddlers'
clinic will be the best solution. Will the mothers bring the toddlers
to a special clinic ? At the present time if there is a baby as well
as a toddler in the family, the mother very frequently brings both,
and we have to consider if the mother would bring the toddler
and make a special journey. On the other hand, some mothers
are unwilling to bring the toddlers on account of the overcrowding
which occasionally occurs, and they feel that the clinic is primarily
for the infants. This of course, is a mistaken notion.
Another objection is our want of staff and accommodation.
At the school clinic, infant clinics are held on four afternoons a
Week, and on the remaining afternoon—Friday—a dental anaesthetic
session is held. As the accommodation is crowded and segregation
is difficult, Friday afternoon would not be an ideal time
for such an experimental work as a toddlers' clinic. We might
try
one as an experiment in one of the other clinics, if the rooms are
available. If the clinic is to be held, it must be conducted practically
on the same lines as the entrance examination to the infants'
department.