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(b) Those which it is desirable to keep apart from other
children.
(c) Babies requiring to have test feeds, treatment for certain
minor ailments, etc.
(d) Those whose mothers are unable for some good reason
to attend their own centre at the usual time.
The numbers attending this centre are low, but the work done is
important. Unfortunately, Wednesday morning has now to be partly
devoted to the second ante-natal clinic, and consequently the work of
the Special Clinic is somewhat curtailed. Instruction is given to
mothers whose children require simple massage and exercises; but
patients requiring more skilled massage and electrical treatment are
referred to the Miller Hospital. Unfortunately, only a proportion of
the cases so referred ever reach the massage department of the hospital,
but those who do, always receive great benefit. Failure is usually due
to disinclination on the part of the mother to attend, and such cases
need energetic following up on the part of the Health Visitors.
5. Dental Clinic. Dental inspections were formerly held at
intervals of about three months. It was found advisable to arrange for
a regular date, and dental inspections are now held on the third
Tuesday of every alternate month. Until this year, children only were
given treatment, but as it is most important to the welfare of their
infants that expectant and nursing mothers should have sound teeth,
it was decided in the autumn to make some provision for mothers also,
in special cases. A dental chair having been formerly provided at the
Tuberculosis Dispensary, where sanction for its use has not been
granted, the Public Health Committee decided to lend this chair to the
children's dental clinic in Albury street in order that mothers might
have dental treatment when required. The sum to be spent on this
item and the children's dental clinic together is limited to £50 per ann.
Patients requiring extractions only are referred as a rule to the Miller
Hospital. All dental patients who can afford to do so are advised to
consult their own dentist; but it is unusal for the mother of a family
to find the means of doing this.
6. The Ante-natal Clinic. Expectant mothers attend at the
Napier Street Mission Hall on Tuesdays, at 9.30 a.m, for medical
examination and advice. The attendances having increased so much
that the morning's work could not be finished before 2 p.m., it was
found necessary to have a second session on Wednesdays. Patients