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37
Artificial Sunlight Clinic.—The artificial sunlight clinic is held in part
of the Town Hall Infant Welfare Centre. The total number of patients treated
during the year, including 116 whose course of treatment was not completed at the
end of 1935, was 350. The total number of treatments given was 9,479 : of these,
7,829 were by carbon arc, 945 by mercury vapour lamp, 659 by radiant heat lamp,
and 46 by infra-red lamp. The infra-red lamp was purchased in June at a cost of
£15 15s. Od.
The clinic is open every morning and on three afternoons each week. Treatment
is by appointment only and no charge is made. Patients as a rule attend twice a
week. Each whole-time assistant medical officer attends on one half day each week.
The clinic is under the medical supervision of Dr. J. E. A. Lynham, who has furnished
the following report on the year's work :—
" The total number of cases attending the Clinic in the past year is appreciably
down. This can be explained partly by the smaller number carried on
from the previous year, and partly, it is hoped, by the steadily increasing influence
of the Public Health Department.
The number presented under the heading Debility is relatively high, and it is
to be noted that the more severe cases of this kind are becoming steadily fewer
in number, and that the percentage of cases much improved or cured is the
highest yet obtained. A majority of those with enlarged glands did extremely well
with general light baths, and reported afterwards periodically for observation.
The " ' nervous " cases were not so satisfactory, but in nearly all these the home
influences were obviously not the best.
Many of the cases marked ceased treatment had moved out of the district ;
some were considered by the parents to be cured, and some had to withdraw
because of cases of epidemic disease in their homes.
An infra-red lamp was introduced to assist in the treatment of rheumatic
pains, and has fully justified its adoption.
Much of the time the Clinic is run to its full capacity, and all the staff are
looking forward to a time when accommodation may be increased.
The system of referring the little patients at intervals to the doctors of
the Clinic who first saw them has worked excellently."
Mothers living in Eltham find it difficult to attend regularly with their children
at the clinic and to keep up attendance for the time considered necessary by the
medical officers. From them a course of treatment demands much time in travelling
and consequential expense. Because of this, the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee have accepted in principle the establishment of an artificial sunlight
clinic at Eltham, and at the end of the year negotiations for the purchase of a suitable
site were in progress.