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Child Welfare.
19
Mothers were encouraged to attend the child welfare centre, on
Monday and Thursday afternoons, where demonstrations, consulta.
tions and Medical advice were given.
The Centre was opened on 96 occasions in the year, the
babies making 1,385 attendances. 112 New babies were entered in
the register, 71 from Mortlake and 41 from Barnes. Of these 51
were breast fed and 61 bottle fed.
Leaflets dealing with nursing, maternity, and simple ailments
were freely disposed of; and Virol, ointments, dried foods, etc sold
53 older children, but under school age, attended for medical
treatment, making 168 attendances, several of these receiving
hospital letters.
In home visiting of infants it was found that the proportion of
breast fed to bottle ied babies was as 3 is to 2.
Infant deaths under one year number 38, plus 2 dying outside
the district; 13 of these died in their first fortnight and 15 were
prematurely born.
There were 3 deaths among 15 illegitimate born.
ANTENATAL WORK.
This work is gradually increasing, 36 expectant mothers were
found and 80 visits paid to them. Facilities were provided for
them in the way of getting meat, butter and milk. 20 mothers saw
the medical officer and sometimes brought other children ; in 2
cases arrangements were made for the former at a maternity
hospital.
In this connection it would be advisable to arrange for a
dental clinic for expectant mothers, and no doubt letters could be
obtained admitting such cases to a dental hospital.
A very successful Baby Show was held at the Ranelagh Club
by kind permission of the Club Committee.
TUBERCULOSIS.
98 Visits were paid to patients' homes, and contacts advised to
attend the dispensary. Extra rations were also obtained for these
patients.