View report page

72
(e) Ophthalmic Defects and Minor Ailments.—Children are
given treatment either at the School Clinics or by special appointment.
(f) Child Guidance.—The special session for children under
school age which began at the West Avenue Welfare Centre in
1951 was continued with success. The following report is contributed
by Dr. Helen Gillespie, Senior Psychiatrist at the
Walthamstow Child Guidance Clinic :—
"I am glad to report that there has been an increase in
the number of children referred for treatment at this clinic.
14 cases were referred during 1954 as against 10 in 1953.
"It is hoped that full advantage will be taken during the
coming year in making use of the facilities offered at this clinic
for preventive mental health work.
"Of the cases referred, 7 were closed after a satisfactory
result was achieved, 4 are still under treatment and 3 children
have lapsed in their attendance. Two other children referred
during the previous year are still attending for treatment.
"The following is an analysis of cases treated :
Behaviour disturbance 8
Habit disorder 6
(g) Pediatric Clinic.—The fortnightly clinic, under the charge
of Dr. Elchon Hinden, Pædiatrician to Whipps Cross Hospital,
continued during 1954, and 32 children under five years of age
were seen.
Dr. Hinden reports as follows:—
"The work of the clinic has continued along the same
lines as in previous years. The majority of the children seen
are suffering from abnormalities of growth and development,
or from behaviour disorders. Organic disease is rarely
encountered, but the disability and embarrassment caused by
these functional derangements is very considerable.
"Obesity is a condition which is often referred to the
clinic. In many instances the child was sent by an Orthopaedic
surgeon, who first saw the patient because he was suffering from
knock-knee. This is almost an invariable accompaniment of
obesity, and it is very hard to cure while the child remains
heavy. Unfortunately, the weight of the child is equally
difficult to control. Rarely do we find gross glandular disturbance
in these children; in the great majority of cases, the
obesity is familial. One or both of their parents are overweight,
and so are other relations, too. The children are big