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89
In 26 families in Woolwich parish 220 children had been born,
of these only 95 were surviving in 1907. These 26 families form
exceptionally bad instances, and in most cases there were
evidences of alcoholism on the part of the parents.
The following are typical of the worst cases met with in
visiting infants.
(a) Mother mentally deficient, has lost 6 children out of 10;
house very dirty, smells foul; 3 rooms, family income
about 27s. a week. Baby apparently healthy at first,
but shortly began to waste ; older children sickly, dirty,
ragged. The mother's entire lack of capacity rather
than drink probably accounted for the state of the home.
(a) 14 children born, 7 living ; mother alcoholic, has also
had 3 miscarriages. Father at Labour Colony. 3 rooms,
very dirty ; children dirty and verminous.
(c) Baby small and delicate; when visited at a month old,
mother was giving it baked flour and water, said she
gave it that in addition to the breast as she wanted it
to get on; tenth child, 9 living; house dirty, foul
atmosphere.
(d) 8 children born, 4 have died of tubercular disease, mother
probably consumptive, living in half-basement tenement;
very dark, fairly clean. Baby appeared healthy at 3
weeks old, but older children looked sickly.
Cases such as the foregoing require frequent visiting before any
appreciable effect is obtained. Every effort is made to revisit
urgent cases as often as possible, but time does not admit of their
being re-visited as often as is really necessary.
As stated in last year's report there is no opposition to visits
being made after a birth has occurred. In a few instances the
mothers think a visit means that something is wrong and has
been complained of, but a little explanation to the effect that
the visit is a friendly one soon puts their apprehensions at rest.