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toe may be noticed to separate a little from the others and turn inwards, an action
that reminds one of the prehensile big toe of the apes and that automatically widens
and strengthens the grip on the ground. Shoes, as has been noted, should not
interfere with the action of the big toe. The whole foot, however, may be turned
slightly in, the child walking "pin-toed"—an action by which nature tries to
strengthen and conserve weak arches and counteract any tendency to flatfoot or
knock-knee (try the action on yourself). Do not therefore correct any tendency
to walk pin-toed in a young child at any time—later on when the arches are improved
the child can be taught to point the feet straight. Never teach a child to walk or
dance with toes pointing out: it is the worst thing for straining the arches, upsetting
balance, and causing flat foot.
The Results of Bad Shoeing.—Nearly all the deformities and discomforts familiar
in grown up feet can be seen daily, in miniature form, in children's feet, as a result
of ignorant (not necessarily cheap) shoeing. Unfortunately these conditions are
not self-correcting. Never, therefore, buy or make do with, or accept as a gift,
a pair of shoes without having the child's feet measured. This must be done standing,
making the extra allowance for length which has been described. In addition each
of the other factors mentioned as important should be considered at each purchase.
Then only can you be sure you are doing nothing to hurt the children's feet in later
life.
Artificial Sunlight Clinic.—An artificial sunlight clinic is held in part of
the Town Hall Infant Welfare Centre. The total number of patients treated during
the year, including 135 whose course of treatment was not completed at the end of
1936, was 589. The total number of treatments given was 11,171 ; of these, 9,023
were by carbon arc, 1,540 by mercury vapour lamp, 312 by radiant heat lamp, and
296 by infra-red lamp.
The clinic is open every morning and on four afternoons each week. Treatment
is by appointment only and no charge is made. Patients as a rule attend twice a
week. An assistant medical officer attends on two half-days 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 review of the figures related to the Sunlight Clinic shows a higher
total than in any of the previous years.
The proportion of cases of rickets to the total is about the same as before,
whilst the proportion of children sent for debility and malnutrition is higher.
In the case of rickets a large majority of the children are greatly improved, but
a few cases met with are extraordinarily stubborn, and give an impression that
they could be classified apart in a special group.
In the debility group the number that ceased attending is high, a fact
which seems to be related to lack of proper care and foresight on the part of
the parents.
Children with enlarged glands have done well with general light baths