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84
TODDLERS' CLINIC. — Dr. J.M. Pooley reports as follows with
regard to the Toddlers'Clinic, which is held at theKenwood Garden Clinic:-
"During 1961, unfortunately it was only possible to hold 8
toddler clinic sessions; this was due to pressure of other clinics and
to illness. However, the clinic was keenly attended and the sessions
are now being held on every third Wednesday morning.
The mothers are interested and co-operative, and the clinic is
proving extremely valuable in detecting speech, visual and minor
orthopaedic defects which would not otherwise be dealt with until
the child is of school age.
The sessions, attendances and referrals for the year were as
follows:-
Sessions held 8
First attendances 63
Follow-up attendances 49
Referrals to other clinics 16
Referrals to hospital 1
PHENYLPYRUVIC AMENTIA. - This form of mental backwardness
is associated with the presence of phenylpyruvic acid in the urine, and by
early detection and dietary treatment mental deterioration that is otherwise
unavoidable may be prevented. The arrangements for testing by
routine the urine of infants at the third to fourth week of life for the
detection of the presence of this acid have continued. The test is a simple
one and is carried outbythe health visitors. Thefollowing are the statistics
with regard to this testing in the year 1961.
(i) Number of children tested:-
(a) Where specimen of urine obtained at clinic 1,258
(b) Where specimen of urine obtained at home 734 1,992
(ii) Number of children tested (included in (i) above)
because of suspected mental backwardness Nil
(iii) Number of tests which resulted in a positive reaction Nil
ORTHOPAEDIC CLINIC. -
The following table summarises the attendances of children under 5
years during 1961:-