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The total number of attendances at the infant consultations
during 1932 were 8,365. Of the total attendances 631 were new
children under one year of age, while 166 were new children over
one year and under five years. The total attendances of children
under one year was 5,407 and of children over one year 2,958.
There were 478 children under one year in attendance at the centres
at the end of the year and 848 over one year.
The average attendance at each centre was 47.5 ; the percentage
of infants under one year of age attending the centres is 65.6 of
the total notified births. A very satisfactory proportion.
Supply of Food and Medicines.—Packets of dried food for
infants were sold at the clinics at the discretion of the Medical
Officer. In a few necessitous cases packets of food were given free
when authorised by the doctor in charge. Applications for grants
of free milk were submitted to the Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee.
Small quantities of cod liver oil, cod liver oil emulsion and
Parrish's Food were also sold at the clinics.
General Remarks,—Children who were found at the clinic to be
suffering from any pathological condition were referred to the family
doctor or to hospital. A letter giving details of the conditions found
was given to each patient for her medical adviser.
Arrangements were made for treating cases of marked rickets
with ultra violet radiation.
In general, nutrition, clothing and cleanliness of the children
reached a high standard. The children from one to five years were
well nourished.
Ante-Natal Consultations.—One clinic is held monthly at the
West Centre and Meopham Road Centre, and four sessions are held
monthly at the Maternity Home.
The total number of expectant mothers who attended the West
Centre was 89 and the Meopham Road Centre 50. The relatively
smaller number of patients at Meopham Road was probably due to a
large number of patients being referred to the Maternity Home
Clinic when they had decided to be confined in the Home.