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10
has shown almost as much improvement as that of the infant
mortality, and this may have been due to the increased attention
which has been paid to the pre-school child. It was stated in last
year's report that Circular 1550 had been considered by the Child
Welfare Committee and it was decided to establish a Special
Toddlers' Clinic as an experiment at the Steele Road Clinic.
The following report has been kindly sent me by Dr. Mann
who is in charge of the Clinic at Steele Road.
The Toddlers' Clinic was inaugurated in June 1936 for the
purpose of including in medical schemes all children between the
ages of 1 year and 5 years. In the birthday month of the child
invitations were sent to the parents to bring the child for examination
on the last Friday in the month. These invitations were
followed up with a home visit in as many cases as possible when
the object of the Clinic was explained.
No. of invitations sent each month—June to
December, 1936 224
No. of attendances 72
The attendance was 32% of invitations- sent out.
No. of invitations for 1937 276
No. of attendances 123
The attendance rose to 44.5% of invitations sent out and
many children were brought for their second annual examination.
Each child was stripped, weighed and measured and then a
routine examination of heart, lungs, mouth and throat, ears and
eyes was carried out and any postural defects and congenital
abnormalities noted. Advice was given on diet, hygiene and
general management and in most cases the mothers had many
questions to ask. Any child requiring to be kept under observation
was asked to attend the Welfare Centre on a Tuesday while any
children requiring any active treatment were referred to Hospital,
private practitioners, or to the School treatment Centre.
Nutrition.
The standard of nutrition was good on the whole but some
of the children, particularly of unemployed parents, were undersized
and under-nourished.
There was no marked anaemia and those cases found were
among children examined in the winter months.