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47
There are in this area approximately (100) babies under
school age; 1,200 school children, and about 30 tuberculosis
cases.
During the year the following defects in toddlers were
discovered when home visiting: Strabismus, 2; Teeth
needing attention, 22; Knock knee, 10; Outward curvature
tibia, 2; Pigeon toed, 1; Enlarged Tonsils, 2; Adenoids,
1; Skin diseases, 12; and other conditions, 25. The printed
list of defects on the visiting record card is a definite help
when visiting toddlers.
The welfare centres are attended by the young mother
anxious to have their babies weighed, see the doctor and
learn all they can, but attendance by the older mother is,
I am sorry to say, more often when they want something,
and a good less often I fear when they do not want anything.
The numbers attending the welfare centre should
he better than they are, having regard to the size of the
area and the number of babies.
Six nursing mothers were referred to the School
Dentist during the year. The machinery for obtaining
dentures for the mothers is still very cumbersome.
The foster mothers in the area are most satisfactory,
largely due to the fact that, they are each allowed to take
only one child, thus discouraging money making foster
mothers. The childless couple frequently seeks the Health
Visitor's advice with regard to the adoption of a child, and
is advised to take the child as 'boarded out' before finally
leciding on adoption. Thus it is possible to ascertain if a
child will be acceptable in the family circle. This method
is proving successful. Children received from institutions
and boarded out with foster parents invariably show
marked improvement after a few months of home life, and
this is plainly demonstrated if' one sees a child on arrival
at its new home and again a few months later.
There were six infant deaths in my visiting area as
follows: (a) Under one week of age, had double hare lip
and cleft palate; (b) Under one week of age, had cerebral
haemorrhage; (c) Under two weeks of age, had bronchopneumonia;
(d) Eleven months of age, had pyelitis; (e)
Nine months of age, had broncho pneumonia; and (f) Two