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29
They are, I think, anxious to learn; and that fact,
with maybe some lack of confidence in their own
methods, makes them so ready to ask advice from
neighbours, or from any one who in their opinion,
should know. If a woman who has had a large family
offers advice or opinions, it is eagerly accepted and
acted upon—even when such advice has had fatal
results to the informant's own children.
There have been only two cases in the year where
it was obvious that the mother drank to excess. As a
rule there is no indication of anything of the kind.
It is an old-fashioned idea that some stimulant is
necessary for a nursing mother; but many now profess
not to believe this, and many are not able to afford
it.
The large majority of the newly-born babies are
breast fed; and if statements made by the mothers are
trustworthy, it is safe to conclude that they are anxious
to nurse their babies, and that very few would be
weaned till a year old, were it not that the mothers
are unable to nourish their children. The reason
nearly always given for hand feeding a baby is that
" it was not satisfied," or " the milk failed." Of the
infants visited a few days after birth—
318 were found to be breast fed entirely.
1 was partly breast fed.
15 were hand fed.
There were also 15 about whom no information
could be obtained. The presumption concerning most
of these is that they would be hand fed—for nine
mothers were in Hospital or Infirmary, two died, and
one went to work, leaving the baby with friends at
Stepney.