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18
2. The baby was a few months old. The mother was brought
from a public house bar at 3.30 p.m. She said she had just gone
there for a glass of stout to increase her supply of breast milk.
She was drunk, though the baby was clean, fat and flourishing.
3. The mother had gone out to work. The baby had been
sent to a friend in Hoxton. The father was in bed at mid-day.
The neighbours could give no information. One stated, " We
don't have no doings with her. We prefer people what has only
one husband. The carryings on is disgraceful.''
4. Mother and baby were both at home. A girl aged 11 years
answered the door and said, " Mother says she's out, will you
please call another day."
Method of Feeding.—Nearly all the Finsbury mothers breast
feed their children wholly or partially until the baby is one month
old. Nearly 90 per cent, suckle their infants until the age of
three months.
Some prolong suckling until the child is over two years hoping
by this means to avert another pregnancy.
Sometimes an officious medical student, with little forethought,
needlessly straps the mother's breasts, and breast feeding is thus
prematurely and unnecessarily stopped.
Many mothers cease breast feeding early, not because they are
unwilling to continue, but because they are unable to do so.
For in the poorer parts of the borough it is the mother who supports
the family, it is the mother who feeds the children and clothes
them; too often it is the mother who feeds and clothes her
husband.
In general, it may be said that owing to the father's unemployment,
to the casual nature of his employment, or owing to the
small wages of the family, the mother has to resume work as a
charwoman, a laundry hand, a bookfolder, making cardboard boxeSj
or artificial flowers in order to obtain nourishment for herself and
for the others.