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107
unapproached—the home sphere—where conditions arise and
flourish to the prejudice of the inmates of such dwellings, and
consequently to the community at large. These conditions arise
through want of knowledge, thoughtlessness, and ingrained
prejudice. Of such the following are examples:—
1. Want of personal and domestic cleanliness.
2. Prejudice against ventilation.
3. Erroneous ideas as to the danger of certain infectious diseases,
e.g., measles and whooping cough, with consequent neglect, exposure,
and improper treatment.
4. Ignorance of the more elementary principles of nursing.
5. Ignorance as to the feeding and care of infants and children
at older ages.
6. Want of knowledge of the home treatment of tuberculosis.
Others could be added, but the above are sufficient to show that
if the injury to health arising from the above want of knowledge
and prejudice is to be diminished, there is need for a new class of
public health workers. There is need for individuals who will,
by means of a sympathetic manner and tact, gain the confidence of
mothers, and instruct them in the elementary principles of hygiene
in relation to the home and in the care of infants and young
children—in personal and domestic hygiene. The health visitor is
such a one. The appointment of health visitors is not a recent
idea. Manchester adopted the idea 37 years ago, and the public of
that city has benefited greatly by its adoption. Other towns have
appointed health visitors, with satisfactory results; and the Borough
of Kensington has recently appointed one or more of such officers.
The appointment of health visitors to work in the Borough of
Hackney would, I am convinced, in course of time have an
appreciable effect in directing the attention of mothers to the
necessity and advantage of ruling their homes by the laws of health,
and so diminish the infant mortality.