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31
The Health Visitors have paid visits in 41 cases , leaflets have
been got out by the Medical Officer of Health and distributed to
each patient and arrangements made whereby if the patients require
nursing the services of the nurses of the Richmond District
Nursing Association will be available.
Similar arrangements have been made with regard to whooping
cough as described for measles. Unfortunately the intimation of
the presence of this disease by parents and others is not so good as
it should be.
Epidemic Diarrhoea. Leaflets were got out and left at the
houses in the poorer quarters where a
birth had taken place during the twelve months before July, 1921.
These houses were visited frequently, especially during August, in
order to prevent the onset of the disease. Mrs. Gates afforded
much help at the Centre in the prevention of Summer diarrhœa by
explaining the leaflet to the mothers and seeing that it was appropriately
distributed.
Still-births. Investigations as to the cause of still-births are
made by the nurses in all cases. 17 still-births
have been notified during the year.
Ante-natal Hygiene. Prom time to time the Medical Officer
of Health is consulted at the Centre,
chiefly through the agency of the Secretary of the Infants' Health
Association by expectant mothers.
As a result of a communication from the Council of the
Unmarried Mother and her Child a Sub-Committee of the Maternity
and Child Welfare Committee was formed to consider what
provision, if any, should be made for the unmarried mother and her
child. Three meetings have been held; the matter is now being
considered by a body of social workers in the town and subsequently
doubtless further meetings of the Sub-Committee will be
held. It would seem possible to come to some arrangement
whereby unmarried mothers and their children could be boarded