[Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Ilminster U.D.C.

  • Ilminster (England). Urban District Council. nb2006013900.
Date:
1956
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1956] / Medical Officer of Health, Ilminster U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/56
    Apart from tho immunisations and vaccinations he does, the doctor spends a groat deal of his time allaying the mothers’ fears which often have their origin in tho folk lore handed down in families from mother to daughter. Such is the power of the oetriarch tint it may take many visits to the clinic before the doctor's advice is finally accepted without misgivings. / strict timetable of ideas was necessary when welfare work started, because infant mortality was so high and the first need being to save life, a life saving rigid discipline was required. Today many modifications of regime are suggested. Nevertheless a certain easy organisation is advised. The exponents of tho modern doctrine of self regulation by infants often condemn the timetable in handling the baby. However, a young mother often worried and confused by a situation she has never before encountered is grateful for a simple routine which helps her to plan the management of the baby throughout the day. As far as is practical breast feeding is advocated. The success of a mother in breast feeding her infants will depend on three simple things. It will depend on the kind and degree of ante-natal care and tuition which the mother has received. It depends upon the psychological attitude of the mother and thirdly it depends upon the composition of the individual mother's breast milk. Advice on all three of these factors aro given at tho clinic and the amount of breast feeding is to a certain degree a direct guage of the effectiveness of the clinic. Mothers have become obsessional about their childrens' weight and worry them-c solves sick if baby is putting on what they imagine is too little and occasionally too much weight. Frequently the problem is a simple one and advice is gratefully received. Constipation is another constantly recurring problem presented at child welfare clinics. The latin word 'stipare' means to press and so far as derivation goes, constipation morns the passage of compressed, that is, bard stools. It is not what it is commonly assumed to be, synonymous with infrequent defaecetion, though that is often accompanied by the passage of bard motions. Constipation is tho delay in passage of material through the bowel resulting in the formation of hard- stools, the passage of which gives discomfort. The passage of hard stools is not always uncomfortable. There may be a great contrast between the anguish on the face of the mother as she hears the marbles rattle into the pot and the baby's smile of satisfaction. Constipation has been considered harmful but today it's ill effects ore thought