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35
Nearly all the babies slept in bed with their mothers at night,
even though they occupied separate cots during the day time. One
mother stated that she could not sleep herself if she had not got
the baby with her in bed. At the end of 1914 a leaflet of instruction
was drafted on the dangers of overlying, and has since been
distributed In the borough. For poor people, unable to afford a
cot, the use of a banana crate is recommended. It is best sandpapered
and pollshed. When padded, these banana crates harbour
vermin. The health visitors always endeavour to see the babies.
It has been found that the statements of parents and of neighbours
as to the condition of the baby cannot always be relied upon. For
example, a mother who had to go to work daily had left her baby
in the charge of a neighbour, who stated that the child had two
good meals a day of "sop" and was as fat "as a little bullock."
Difficulties were placed in the way of seeing the child, but it was
eventually caught by surprise in the street. It was then found to
be pale, flabby, dirty, and emaciated.
Mothers appear to be glad when the doctor orders them to give
the baby brandy, but they sometimes overdo it. Thus, a doctor
had ordered the baby to have 10 drops of brandy three times a
day. The mother was actually giving the baby 20 drops of brandy
every two hours.
Illustrative Cases.
1. The baby was 9 months old and the seventh child. Only
four children now lived, three were dead. The family occupied
two rooms. The baby had bronchitis and had been placed in an
orange box close to the fire. Its head was covered with scabs,
which the mother was afraid to touch. Its chest, back, arms and
legs were well rubbed with Russian tallow, and it was enveloped,
back and front, in thick brown paper soaked in tallow. Over this
were placed a cotton-wool jacket, one flannel vest, and two
flannelette petticoats. The baby had not had a bath for two
months. The mother had bought patent leather shoes to put on
the baby when she took it out if the weather became fine. The
father was out of work.
2. The baby was 3 months old and the eleventh child. Seven
children had died, so that only 4 now lived The family occupied