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14
As a rule mothers with their first children were found very
amenable to instruction, willing to take pains and eager to learn,
whereas mothers with two or more children were inclined to resist
enlightenment and to prove a little intractable—this was specially
noticeable in the few who had had many children whose grandmothers
still lived. However, in all save very few cases indeed,
the work of the health visitors, even where at first they met with
a covert subdued passive resistance, was eventually regarded with
fervent appreciation and thankfully received. The difficulties
encountered were due to the crass ignorance and stupidity of a
few mothers, who seem to mistake obstinancy for independence.
Occasionally the work was interrupted by the parents' removal
out of the district. In most cases the chief deterring associated
conditions were poverty, ill-health and lack of employment; only
occasionally was there reason to believe that these were immediately
due to or associated with the drink question.
The following cases are appended to illustrate the conditions
found and thd difficulties encountered:—
1.—A twin and born prematurely. The mother died at its birth.
The baby, left in the care of its maiden aunts, was being fed on
a patent food and at four months of age weighed only 6 lbs. 2 oz.
The father much objected to the weekly weighings of the child,
but finally consented to the child being weighed at home. Advice
and instruction were given and the child gained 3¼ lbs. in 8 weeks.
Nineteen visits were paid.
2.—A baby breast fed, but wasting owing to insufficient food
of the mother. Oil emulsion was given to the child and milk
obtained for the mother. The mother proved very difficult to
deal with; she expected to be confined shortly, and refused to
bring the baby on consultation days after the first occasion.
3.—A baby, very much wasted, and fed on condensed milk from
a fouled bottle. The mother went out to work daily and left the
baby and another child aged 3 years, both suffering from
ophthalmia, in charge of their grandmother, who was almost
blind. The mother was induced to give up work for a time to
look after her children, but with only slight resulting improvements
in the home conditions.