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19
During the year 1937, 531 individual expectant mothers attended
the Clinics, representing 58.7 per cent. of the total notified births
(live and still). In addition 99 mothers attended for post-natal
advice, representing 10.9 per cent. of total notified births.
In all 147 sessions were held during the year. The total number
of attendances of the 630 mothers mentioned above was 2,204,
giving an average of 3.5 attendances per patient. The average
number attending at each session was 15.0.
2. Infant Welfare Clinics.
This service continues on the same lines as last year.
On reviewing the work of the year, I find that there is still
a tendency in the matter of infant and toddler feeding for the
mother to overlook the simple diets, and to seek various substitutes.
Perhaps in this respect the mother is hardly to blame, for several
times in the course of a day our attention is focussed on advertisements
of the languid infant, who, apparently as the result of a
stimulating conversation between two mothers and the subsequent
trial of a concentrated food, is finally portrayed as a fully developed,
and very often, overdeveloped child. It is difficult in the face of this
to suggest that such humble nutrients as Milk, Vegetables, Wholemeal
Bread, Eggs, Butter, Fruit, and Fish are all that is required,
provided these are given in the right quantity and at the right time.
Then, again, the faith in the bottle of medicine is still predominant
in this part, and until this is broken we cannot hope to
get far in preventive medicine. I agree that not infrequently pure
Cod Liver Oil, or some preparation of Iron, or some specific medicine
may be called for, but indiscriminate dosing by the mouth
should be avoided at all costs.
Another matter to which I wish to refer is the question of "baby
talk." A mother should endeavour to get her infant out of the
habit of using "baby words" as soon as possible. Not infrequently
when the child enters school he or she is still using phrases that
had better be forgotten. This acts as a deterrent to the natural
development of speech, and makes the child sound ridiculous.
Before closing my remarks I must mention the subject of sleep.
All the children with whom we deal at Child Welfare Clinics should
be in bed by 6 o'clock at the latest, and, yet, how very often we
find that this is not the case. Frequently, we are told they cannot
sleep at this hour, but a child in bed cannot run about the house,
and the mere fact of being in bed gives lest to the body, and mind,
though sleep may not come at once. Many of the present day ills
require nothing more for prevention than adequate rest.