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8
Instructress. A ready market has been found for the goods, as
they are of a high quality, in most cases being very beautifully
conceived and skilfully executed.
Venereal Diseases.—The year showed no signs of any distinct
increase in the incidence of venereal disease. The number of attendances
for treatment dropped. This is unfortunate. The weakest
point in the control of venereal disease is the cessation of attendances
for treatment before the disease is properly cured. Some
patients think as soon as the acute symptoms have passed there is
no need for further treatment. This attitude is a very mistaken
one and a patient who ceases treatment before being pronounced
cured by the doctor is doing a grievous disservice to the community
and to himself.
Maternity and Child Welfare.—The section of my report dealing
with this subject contains a full account of the work carried out
in the new Obstetrical Unit. Though much of the information is
naturally of a purely medical character, there is furnished abundant
proofs of the utility and essentially preventive aims of the work,
and, of the increasing willingness of women to avail themselves
of the facilities placed at their disposal. More especially has the
new Post-Natal Clinic filled a former blank and through its agency
many women have been spared unnecessary ill-health.
The Infant Welfare Centres show a new peak of attendances,
namely 67,783, an increase of 3,832 on last year's total. Some of
the Centres are badly overcrowded. The Croydon Mothers' and
Infants' Welfare Association will open a new Centre shortly in
Thornton Road which should help to relieve two other centres, but
there is need for further Centres in various parts of the town.
The Children's Convalescent Home at Coombe Cliff has proved
of great value and has been fully occupied throughout the year.
The results obtained have shown that given careful management,
proper dieting and hygienic surroundings children will improve in
health just as rapidly and completely as they do at the seaside.
The Observation Nursery has also had a busy year and although
only a small and consequently a rather expensive institution, it is
doing useful public health work. When additional accommodation
for young children is available at the Mayday Hospital there will
be no reason for a separate Observation Nursery, as both institutions
will be administered by the same Committee. The School Clinics