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It may be mentioned here that a stock of maternity outfits is maintained at the Town
Hall and Centres. Each parcel contains all sterilised dressings, etc., likely to be required for use
at a confinement in a private house, and may be obtained by any expectant mother or midwife
at a cost of four shillings.
OPHTHALMIA NEONATORUM.
Ophthalmia Neonatorum—infiamation in the eyes of the new-born—is a disease which does
a great deal of harm to the eyes of new-born infants, who may contract it at the time of birth
unless careful precautions are taken.
When a midwife is in charge of a case, any eye discharge occurring in the infant is
required to be notified by her to her local supervising authority, which in London is the London
County Council; she must also call in a doctor who, if necessary, notifies the Medical Officer of
Health. When a case of this kind is notified, the Health Visitor calls immediately, and any
necessary treatment is arranged for.
EYE AND SKIN DEFECTS.
Cases of eye defects in mothers and children are dealt with by the London County Council
oculist, and this is a convenience to the mothers. Children who attend the clinics regularly are
referred to the London County Council local School Treatment Centres, when they are found
to be suffering from any skin condition requiring attention. No contagious or infectious disease
is allowed in the clinics.
MASSAGE CLINIC.
Cordial appreciation and thanks are again due to Miss Christian Wickham, for her
continued help in carrying out massage treatment which is undertaken, as previously, two
mornings each week at Bishop Creighton House.
DENTAL CLINIC.
One dental session is held weekly at Greyhound Road, and work is increasing slowly but
surely. During the year the Council gave dental assistance in 26 cases, in some instances giving
completely free dentures to clinic mothers. During the year 290 new cases attended, making 967
total attendances; 207 extractions and 25 fillings were carried out, 32 dentures also being
supplied.
HOME NURSING.
Home nursing is provided by the Borough Council for persons requiring such attention
and unable to pay for it privately. There are three groups of cases included in the Council's
scheme—certain illnesses in children under five years of age; certain illnesses in expectant and
nursing mothers; and certain infectious diseases.
A fee of one shilling per visit is paid for each attendance on a case, in the first two
groups by the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, and in the third group by the Public
Health Committee.