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Clinics.
There are seven Voluntary and two Municipal Centres in the
Borough. Sessions are held for infants and toddlers at all Centres.
Antenatal sessions,at which the mothers are seen and advised by
a doctor, are held at four of the Voluntary and at both Municipal
Centres. Sewing classes are held, health talks are given and at
some Voluntary Centres infant foods and cod liver oil pieparations
are supplied at cost price.
Antenatal Clinics.
The work at these Clinics is growing rapidly. At the two
Municipal Clinics attendances have so increased during 1928, that
it may be considered necessary to hold an additional Antenatal
session. There is a close co-operation between the midwives
practising in the neighbourhood and the Clinics, and a very large
number of women are referred by the midwives to the Medical
Officer of the Clinic. The midwife is notified after each visit of
her patient as to the general health and the results of particular
examinations. Many expectant mothers come to the Clinic on
the advice of Health Visitors : it is encouraging also to find that
a number have been advised to attend the Clinic by their friends
who have previously received help and advice themselves, or
whose children are attending the Infant Welfare Clinic. Attendances
are regular, and the women themselves are interested and
eager for advice and examination after the aim of antenatal care
has been explained to them. An opportunity is taken at the visits
to teach the women something in the early care of infants, by
instruction in breast hygiene and suitable diet with a a view to
breast-feeding later. Model baby garments are displayed, and
help given in the making of such garments.
Dental.
Three half-day sessions per week have been established for
dental work amongst the toddlers under 5 years of age, each
session being attended by a Lady Dentist. Fillings are done, and
every effort is made to preserve the primary teeth. Necessary
extractions are done under nitrous oxide gas anaesthesia. This
work is most valuable, not only from the curative point of view,
but also as regards teaching mothers the importance of dental
car.e from the earliest years.

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