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opportunity and encouragement for reform, information was sent
to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
During the cold months the work disclosed a large amount of
distress and poverty in the district. One or both parents have
been found out of work, bed ridden, acutely ill with phthisis,
pneumonia, or other illness, blind, or suffering from exposure and
want of food, conditions which but for the timely visits of the
health visitors might have ended in disaster.
In a few houses the mother had been deserted, was out of
work, was excessively weak owing to her resuming homework
as an out-worker too soon after her confinement, a course
rendered necessary by her lack of means, or was unequal or
succumbing to the task of rearing twins. Measures were taken
wherever possible to alleviate the distress.
Dispensary tickets, grocery tickets, food, clothes and boots
were provided in suitable cases—the expense being defrayed by
voluntary contributions and help from the churches, chapels,
missions and private sources. Weak and ailing mothers,
exhausted after a severe confinement, were sent to convalescent
homes. Cases of phthisis were secured admission to sanatoria, or
treated at other institutions.
Cases of illness were accompanied to hospital and proper treatment
obtained.
Where deemed advisable, the parents were dressed and nursed
at home. The homes were washed, cleaned, and brightened up
and every effort made to encourage the parents to keep them in
this condition. Kindly help and co-operation were extended to
every case, not obtrusively or ostentatiously, but tactfully and
free from the clogging influence of officialism, or officious interference.
In addition to the work thus outlined, cases of measles discovered
at home were visited, and appropriate instruction given in
the methods of treatment.