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particular doctor or midwife, although it will be often necessary for you to
insist upon the wisdom of calling in a medical man to the home, or visiting
one at his surgery. The former is the proper procedure in any illness when
the case is supposed to be an infectious or contagious disease. Neither should
you allow yourselves to criticise any treatment prescribed, or said to have
been prescribed, by a doctor or midwife. You may hear all the mother is
pleased to tell you, but only take "a thinking part" in the drama.
On the other hand, you must not advise medical treatment yourselves,
and even as regards clothing and diet of mother and children, it will be wise
of you to first enquire what advice on this subject, if any, has been given by
the family doctor. Should he not have given any, then you are free to give
advice on the lines of the Council's handbook, " Advice to Mothers." This
book is worthy of your own reading again and again, so that all the visitors'
advice may be uniform, and not in as many different keys as there are visitors.
When in doubt, refer the mother to the medical adviser at the centre.
Uniformity is also necessary in the nature and extent of your enquiries—
to secure this I advise that a schedule, as shown, be pasted in the front of
every note-book. Reference to this will show the visitor what questions are
to be asked, and prevent unnecessary questions.
As you are not trained in women sanitary inspectors' work, nor armed
with her authority, you cannot demand to be shown over the premises and
back-yard of a house, although (if requested) you may accompany the mother
to any part she is desirous to show you. On your visit, whilst conversing
with the mother, you can use your powers of observation without comment,
and note whether the house is kept in a clean, indifferent, or dirty condition;
and the same with regard to the clothing of the mother and family, and so
forth; also whether the windows are open or not.
You can help the public health department by informing us of such
conditions as obstructed sinks or water closets; lack of a dust-bin; the presence
of measles, whooping cough, chicken-pox, mumps, ringworm, itch or
vermin, etc., if such come under your observation, or are complained of by
the mother.
Above all, your visits are directed to secure the regular attendance of
the mothers and infants at the Centre, and to ask if the directions of the
medical adviser as to diet and clothing are being carried out.
I hear that it has been decided by the Board of Control that provision
of extra nourishment must be referred to the Visiting Committee, and that
mothers shall not be visited until 12 days after their confinement.