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78
this district a number of children are brought to the toddlers'
clinics who had not and would not be brought to the infant welfare
centres because they attend by appointment and are seen without
long periods of waiting. It is a distinct advantage, too, to the
clinic medical officer to know what time can be afforded to each
child, a position she is not often in when conducting an infant
welfare centre.
The clinics here deal with limited numbers of children. At an
average of twenty per session, children being seen quarterly and
allowing for removals, etc., any one centre can deal with only about
300 children a year. A more common arrangement of running
toddlers' clinics is for children to be summoned annually which,
assuming an average of 20 per session, enables 1,000 children to be
examined in any year. While there is the advantage that, by this
arrangement, advice can be given for the amelioration of the grosser
physical defects of a large number of children, it is felt that the
interval between the inspections is too long and far more benefit
will follow the more frequent inspections. While the district is
growing and so many clinic sessions have to be held, because larger
numbers can be dealt with at infant welfare centres than at toddlers'
clinics, the demand for infant welfare sessions must be met first.
It is hoped that later, however, it may prove possible to meet what
seems to be the optimum requirement, namely, for any area, two
infant welfare sessions, one ante-natal clinic and one toddlers'
session.
TREATMENT.
The treatment services include the following: dental treatment,
operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids, ultra-violet ray therapy,
correction of visual defects, orthopaedic treatment and the treatment
of minor ailments.
In addition, arrangements are made for the admission of suitable
cases to convalescent homes and for home nursing.
Facilities for treatment were on much the same lines as those
recorded on page 81 of the Annual Report for the year 1935.
The following particulars show the extent to which the facilities
for treatment are used.
Dental Treatment: 147 children under five years of age made
167 attendances. 217 mothers made 409 attendances and
40 were fitted with dentures.
Ultra-violet ray therapy: 156 children made a total of 870
attendances.
Orthopaedic Treatment: 114 children made 610 attendances
for treatment.
In addition, 15 children were examined by the orthopaedic
surgeon.