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The fact appears to be that the child, now relieved of school
attendance, is so useful to the parents that they passively resist
all plans which are conceived for her betterment.
The three foregoing types are fairly common, and occur with
unfailing regularity every year. There is one other type which
is not quite so common, in which the whole family enter and
leave the workhouse together. The father or mother has phthisis,
and sometimes one or more children are affected. In one such
family three children had phthisis. The mother is, possibly, a
charwoman, the father does no work. They move from one
address to another, either surreptitiously or are ejected for nonpayment
of rent. The mother is pregnant, and towards the end
of her term enters the workhouse for her confinement. The
father, deprived of the mother's earnings, enters the workhouse
too, and the children accompany him. Such families as these
move from house to house, and from one borough to another,
presumably leaving a wake of infection wherever they go.
Illustrative Cases. -
1.—The father, mother, and five children, girls 12, 8, 6, 2
years, and a baby 10 weeks, occupied 2 rooms. The father had had
phthisis for some considerable time. Latterly, the girl, 8 years,
had been notified to have phthisis. The girl 6 years was suspected
to have phthisis, but as yet showed no definite signs. The father
had been out of work for 15 months, and refused to enter the poor
law infirmary. He refused to allow the girl 8 years to go to an
institution. The girl used to attend a hospital as an out-patient,
but the mother was unable to take her regularly. The mother
worked and earned a few shillings each week. The rooms, floors
and bedding were clean. The windows were kept open. The
prospects of the family would be considerably improved, and the
chance of infection of the others lessened if the father and the
girl 8 years were to enter the poor law infirmary. The father,
however, refused his consent. Otherwise, this case might
possibly be dealt with under Section 12 of the Children Act, 1908,
which makes it an offence for any person having the custody of a
child, to neglect, expose, or cause to be neglected or exposed,
such child in a manner likely to cause the child injury to his
health.