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In October, an additional Welfare Centre was opened at
St. Matthew's Church Hall, Spencer Road, Raynes Park, on
Monday afternoons. The average attendance per session to
the end of the year was 33.09.
The average attendance per session at the Wandle Park
Centre was 80.46, an increase on the figure of 71.44 in 1937.
The Medical Officer reports that the health and progress
of the children continued to be satisfactory.
During the early months of 1938 an epidemic of measles
affected a large number of children in Wimbledon. One
hundred and six of the children attending the Centres suffered
from measles, whooping cough, chicken-pox, and other acute
infections. Bronchitis again was the commonest illness, one
hundred and fifty cases being seen during the year.
Digestive troubles, including feeding difficulties, gastroenteritis,
acidosis, and thread worms, affected eighty-six
children. Eye defects were again very common, eighty-nine
children suffered from these. All the cases of discharging
eyes quickly cleared up after treatment at the Clinic.
Children with strabismus were referred to the ophthalmic
department and provided where necessary with glasses.
Fifty-five children and seventy mothers were referred to
the dental surgeon for treatment. This is an unusually high
number of mothers who needed treatment.
Twenty-nine children were found to be suffering from
enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Arrangements were made for
tonsillectomy where necessary under the Authority's scheme.
Seventy-three cases of otitis media and externa were observed.
Treatment was carried out mainly at the Clinic and obstinate
cases were referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon.
Many cleared up entirely. Two children developed mastoiditis
and were admitted to hospital for operation.
Seventy children were seen with orthopaedic defects.
The more severe of these were seen by the Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Twenty-six children were found to have congenital abnormalities.
These included nævi, talipes and spina bifida. Five
mentally retarded children were kept under observation
during the year.
Certain conditions which used to be commonly seen at
Welfare Centres and out-patient departments are now becoming
almost a rarity. Rickets, for instance, once quite common,
was noticed in only two children during 1938. Marasmus and
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