View report page

24
without any hesitation, produces soaps of various kinds and
qualities—scented, household, and disinfectant soaps—then on this
head alone it may be decided that the mother is a clean, careful
woman who can very well do without the aid of the health visitor.
If, however, the mother does not know where the baby's soap
is, if the request leads to a domestic discussion as to who used
the soap last, and a reoriminatory dialogue as to where the last
user placed it, such a household is at once considered to be one
for visiting and for revisiting. In Finsbury, home visitation is
considered to be by far the most important work of the Health
Visitor.
For Finsbury purposes the instruction and attendance at Weighing
Centres and Schools for Mothers are, in this connection,
deemed to be of third-rate or even of fourth-rate importance.
Everything else is subordinated to home visitation, and any
part of the work which, in any way, interferes with the efficiency,
scope, or extent of home visitation is discarded.
As a rule, the health visitors are exceedingly well received and
welcomed by parents. It is an extremely rare event for a visit
to be resented.
On the first occasion, the Health Visitor leaves with the mother
a booklet on the care of infants, and a card of information about
the Weighing Centres, with an invitation to bring her baby to
be weighed. Sometimes it is difficult to sec the mother, because
she may have to go out to work at an early hour and may return
very late in the day. In such cases a postcard is sent making an
appointment for a convenient time, and asking that the mother
and baby shall be present when the health visitor calls. When
visits cease to the mother of a delicate baby, a stamped postcard,
addressed to the health visitor, is left with her. If the mother
tills in and sends this postcard by post, she will be revisited
Postcards to mothers are sent in plain envelopes so as not to
wound their susceptibilities. Letters to these humble households
are so few that any contained in official envelopes will rouse the
curiosity and adverse criticism of inquisitive reighbours.