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NUTRITION (MINISTRY OF HEALTH CIRCULAR, 1290).
In October, 1932, the Minister of Health issued Circular 1,290
to Maternity and Child Welfare Authorities throughout the country.
The circular contained evidence that nutritional anaemia of infants
could be greatly reduced by the administration of iron ammonium
citrate, and gave practical advice regarding its administration.
The circular further drew attention to results obtained in the mitigation
or prevention of rickets and dental disease by an adequate
supply of Vitamin D and calcium rich foods (e.g., milk, eggs, cod
liver oil) in the diets of infants and children and of expectant
and nursing mothers.
During the year under review the Clinic Medical Officers have
recommended the administration of iron in the form of iron and
ammonium citrate to expectant mothers with a history of too
frequent pregnancies, and to expectant and nursing mothers who
appeared to be suffering from anaemia. A few of the mothers
complained of indigestion and nausea after taking the medicine,
but the majority derived great benefit and in some cases the improvement
in the general appearance of the women after a course of
4 to 6 weeks' treatment was very marked. In addition, iron
ammonium citrate has been recommended in the case of infants
who appear to be suffering from nutritional anaemia.