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34
Woollen vests and flannel garments are gradually coming into
favour, but these are frequently only adopted when the infants are put
into short clothing. This is usually due to one of two reasons, either
(1) lack of means to procure what is necessary, or (2) the baby's outfit
having been provided and being already in use when the Health Visitor
arrives. The mother thinks it unnecessary to alter her method for
this baby until the clothes for shortening have to be provided.
The problem of the ever-present poverty has still to be faced.
Especially during the winter months the need for providing meals for
the babies as well as for the school children is very real.
Thanks are due to the Paddington Health Society for the
generous way in which they have given milk during the summer
months to Willesden babies treated at Paddington Green Children's
Hospital for diarrhoea and marasmus. Orders for specially-prepared
milk are issued by the medical staff of the hospital, and the milk is
provided by the Health Society. This milk is, of course, intended for
children residing in Paddington only, but in many cases this rule has
been broken, and the Willesden babies have materially benefited
thereby.
The Health Visitors, as well as the mothers, have much appreciated
this help, but it is sad to think that Willesden mothers should
have to seek help for their babies outside their own district.
Adequate food for nursing and pregnant mothers should also be
forthcoming. It is possible to provide meals for mothers at a very
small cost, as has already been proved in several London boroughs, as
well as in Paris and Germany. It is attempting a very hopeless task
to try to educate mothers in personal and domestic hygiene when the
most evident things to them are the need for food and the difficulties
experienced in procuring it in what often proves the most expensive
and unsatisfactory manner. One wonders whether in like circumstances
they, too, would not lose heart and feel it was not worth while
trying to improve matters. It is so much easier to let things go; and,