View report page

In addition, at the Invalid and Crippled Children's Hospital,
four beds are reserved for young children requiring in-patient
orthopaedic treatment; there are complete facilities at the hospital
for out-patient treatment of the common deformities of this age
period, e.g. bowlegs and knock-knees, slight talipes, torticollis in
infancy due to birth injury, etc. Most of these patients are referred
to the Orthopædic Surgeon from the Child Welfare Centres
in the Borough.
Arrangements are in force with the Committees of Queen
Mary's Hospital, Stratford, and St. Mary's Hospital, Plaistow,
for the treatment of ear, nose and throat defects in young children.

Convalescent Homes for Children under 5 years of age.
Young children referred for convalescence are sent to Homes
through the aid of the Invalid Children's Aid Association and the
Invalid and Crippled Children's Society. The children are all
examined prior to convalescence by one of the Council's Medical
Officers.
During 1935, 336 children were sent to various Homes for
periods from one to three months: the number is an increase of
108 over that number for 1934. This service has grown tremendously
in recent years with the establishment of more Infant
Welfare Centres, whereby many more children now receive
medical supervision and examination.
It is found that convalescence in the case of young children
is more frequently required for such chronic ailments as malnutrition,
anaemia, rickets, general debility, than for debility following
an acute illness. The children are more often recommended from
Infant Welfare Centres than from private doctors or Medical
Officers of Hospitals.
In some cases the cause of malnutrition, failure to gain
weight, anorexia may be definitely attributed to an acute infection,
but in the large majority the history is simply that the child
has not been well for some weeks, is fretful, and refusing food.
The mother becomes worried, which in turn affects the child,
hence a vicious circle is set up. The only remedy is to remove
this child from the care of its mother for a period of several weeks,
not to a hospital, but to a convalescent home with its regular,
61