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required observation only and healed spontaneously within a
period of three months; and (2) the more extensive ones, accompanied
by discharge and requiring active treatment. In the treatment
of the second group it was a great advantage to have the help
of the laboratory service of Whipps Cross Hospital, where all the
cervical cultures were examined. The pathological reports made it
possible to give specific treatment with sulphonamides, penicillin
or other antibiotics; and I am grateful to Dr. W. W. Walther and
his pathological staff for their invaluable assistance. No patient in
the second group was discharged until treatment had been effective
and the erosion was completely healed.
Other conditions were treated on the usual lines and presented
no special difficulty.
On the whole, the second year's work at this clinic has continued
to show the need for post-natal supervision and treatment and the
satisfactory response of the mothers when it is made available for
them.
Care of Premature Infants.
The term "premature infants" refers to babies weighing
5½ lbs. or less at birth, irrespective of period of gestation. Stillbirths
are excluded.
(а) Number of premature infante notified (1) Born at home 23
during the year (including transferred
notifications) whose mothers norm(2) Born in hospital
ally reside in the Authority's area. or nursing home 61
(b) Premature infants born in the area
(whether their mothers normally
reside in the area or not) but exclud23.
ing babies born in maternity homes
and hospitals in the National Health
Service.