View report page

34
wash its face. Some again fear that if they wash the baby "the
cold will strike inwardly and set up inflammation of its little
insides." In one household where the mother and all the children
were found excessively dirty the mother observed, "Dirt didn't
matter if the children thrived in it,—it was only top dirt." She
washed them " regular at the end of every week."
Some mothers wash the baby just a few weeks old with strong
unsuitable soaps, so that the skin between the legs becomes very
sore and peels in large pieces, leaving raw surfaces. Others, with
little knowledge, wash the babies' napkins or clothing in water
containing strong soap or washing soda, and in this way give the
baby eczema.
It is quite common in a household to find that the father is out
of work and alleged to be looking for it, and that the mother has
regular work and has gone out early in the morning, leaving the
care of the home and baby to quite a young child, 8, 10, or 12
years old, who has been given a halfpenny or a penny to get milk
for the baby until the mother returns at night, and a penny or
twopence to get fish and chipped potatoes or "pieces" for the
older children. When the baby becomes ill, the mother takes the
advice of a neighbour and uses up the remains of any medicine
which the neighbour had "when her own child was took ill in the
same manner of speaking." If the illness persists, the mother
describes the symptoms to a chemist and "fetches a bottle of
medicine" from him. If the child does not improve it is taken in
person to see the chemist. After this, if the child still continues
ill, the mother seeks medical advice. Discharging eyes are bathed
in milk and water. For coughs and colds the chest is rubbed with
Russian tallow, camphorated oil, or "nine oils."
Diarrhoea, unless it be severe, is considered to be "natural in a
baby."
When their children become ill, mothers often lessen their
chances of recovery by taking them out to a hospital, to a dispensary,
or to be christened in rough weather. They say they
cannot afford to have a doctor at home. Mothers in mean streets
are very fastidious; sometimes they will not use an ointment given
to them at the hospital "because it docs not look right,"