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107
factory and stay at home to mind her own baby,
where the child was very soon entirely naturally fed
and thriving. Another foster-mother boasted that
during the 4 weeks she had had a baby under her
care the child had only lost 1 lb., this she considered
a proof of excellent mothering.
"The infant weighing machine still proves to be of great
value. Any mother is invited to bring her baby to be weighed
on Monday and Thursday afternoons. During last year 115
infants came to be weighed, and their total visits equalled 452.
The largest amount gained by a baby in one week was lb.;
the average gain was between 4 and 5 oz. The mothers show
great interest in the children's weights and progress, and I am
frequently brought into contact with children who are not
thriving, and who I should often not reach in any other way.
I quote the following case to illustrate this: A child aged 17
months (not belonging to the poorest class) was brought to be
weighed because she was thin and fretful and did not walk.
She weighed 16 lb. 10 oz. (the average weight of a baby about
6 months old). The child was scantily clothed in cotton, was
given hardly any milk food, and was put to bed at about 10 p.m.
After altering these three conditions the next week's weight
showed a gain of ij lb. The child continued to gain in weight
steadily and soon walked.
"Another kind of case which frequently comes to my knowledge
in this way is that of a generally healthy naturally fed
baby of a few months old. The mother has been assured by
neighbours that the child is not satisfied, and should be given
some kind of artificial food (generally of a rather dangerous
kind, such as gruel or biscuit). At this point the mother sometimes
decides she will first ascertain the child's weight. When
she does this she generally finds the child is at least its normal
weight (generally above it), and with this proof of good progress
she is easily persuaded not to follow the neighbour's advice.