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30
Dental Clinic.
Fifty-eight children under five years of age were
treated at the Dental Clinic; 17 expectant mothers also
received treatment.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum.
Impairment of vision was not recorded in any of the
three cases notified during the year, statistical particulars
of which are given in Appendix XI.
Diarrhoea and Enteritis.
Seven deaths of children under two years of age were
recorded during the year. This is equivalent to a rate
of 11 per 1,000 babies born in the year, and is again an
increase over the average rate for Bromley. This
increase, from what is largely a preventable disease, was
due to an epidemic which occurred during May and June.
Very few of these cases were admitted to hospital,
although they could only be inadequately nursed at
home. There is, unfortunately, the tendency to treat
cases of acute illness in babies in the homes, where it
is practically impossible to provide skilled attention
throughout the day and night. With a limited health
visiting staff' it is also not possible to give the individual
instruction in the prevention of this serious disease in
babies.
Children Act, 1908, Part I.
This section of the Children Act refers to the care
and supervision of boarded-out children, the responsibility
resting on the Maternity and Child Welfare
Authority. A new enactment is at present in the committee
stage in Parliament, and by the time this report
is circulated will no doubt have received the King s
consent. The new Act should rectify many defects oi
the 1908 Act, and it will be possible to follow more
clearly the movements of an unwanted boarded-out childAs
the law at present exists it is not always possible tn
keep touch with the child from one foster-mother to
another, but if the present Bill becomes law the fostermother
will be required to give notice before reception