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49
covered by our direct clinical activities. In these groups the
Health Visitors discuss problems they meet in their work at the
Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics and in their visiting areas.
"Other groups were also started in December for the Medical
Staff and Health Visitors attached to the Infant and Maternity
Welfare Services in Walthamstow, and are held by Dr. Gillespie
and Dr. Hoffman fortnightly. Children showing difficulties in
their development which present problems to their mothers are
discussed from the point of view of causation and better methods
of handling by the Maternity and Infant Welfare Staff."
"I would again like to stress the need for early reference
to the clinic of pre-school children "
( f) Paediatric clinic - The fortnightly clinic, under the
charge of Dr. Elchon Hinden, Paediatrician to Whipps Cross
Hospital, continued during 1959 and thirty nine children under
five years of age were seen.
Dr. Hinden's report on the work of this clinic is included
in the Annual Report of the Borough School Medical Officer.
The following details are given in regard to the children
under five years who attended the clinic during 1959:-
Under five years
New cases 13
Total attendances 39
Physical Defects:
Cases seen 39
Referred to Hospital 4
Discharged 5
(g) Phenylpyruvic Amentia
During the year arrangements were made at the request of the
County Medical Officerof Health for the detection and treatment
of Phenylpyruvic Amentia. The circular stated that
"this is the biggest clearly defined group of cases of low
grade mental deficiency after mongolism. It is usually classed
as an hereditary disorder, but it is exceptional for the
parents themselves to have the condition. The prognosis for
life is fairly good, but for mental development it is extremely
poor. There is a wide range of mental deficiency varying from
that of dull intellect to idiocy, but up to the present time all
recorded cases have been regarded as mental defectives.