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to give cod-liver oil in some form to prevent the development of
rickets. Provided that the average infant of two months or
more receives three drachms of cod-liver oil or its equivalent,
rickets will almost certainly be prevented. The trouble is that
many mothers prefer to give cod-liver oil and malt as they
consider it to be more palatable. There are good preparations
that contain as much as 50 per cent. of oil, but the majority
contain only 15 per cent. or less. The correct daily dose in
terms of oil would therefore be 20 teaspoonfuls of the average
preparation. As the dose of oil and malt usually given rarely
exceeds three teaspoonfuls a day this may be (and in my
experience undoubtedly is) an explanation of some of the mild
cases of rickets that still make their appearance.
Rheumatism Clinic.—This Clinic is held each Thursday
morning (except during the school holidays) in the Town Hall
Buildings, under the direction of Dr. Gerald Slot, who, being
on the staff of the Royal Waterloo Hospital and the Royal
Hospital, Richmond, is able to treat many of the children at
these institutions. A lady visitor from the Invalid Children's
Aid Association attends each session of this Clinic and reports
to the Association details of those who are in need of convalescent
or special hospital treatment.
I repeat my remarks of previous years, expressing the
gratitude due from this Authority to the Invalid Children's
Aid Association who make between 100 and 200 visits each year
to the homes of the children in this district and obtained the
convalescent home treatment for the 21 children mentioned
below without making any charge to this Borough.
During the year, 178 children (of whom 76 were new
patients) made 581 attendances at the Rheumatism Clinic.