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87
In almost every case, the time spent in talking to the child and thus
securing his or her interest, has proved as valuable, or more so, than the
medicinal treatment gfven.
There have been a few cases who have relapsed as soon as the
tablets have been discontinued—and in these, the substitution of a sweet
or saccharin after a week or so, has often been sufficient to meet the
case; in others, a gradual decrease of the dosage has been more satisfactory.
The home background is invariably important—a harassed, tired
mother in an overcrowded house, naturally cannot give the calm
reassurance so necessary to the child.
This was strikingly illustrated by a 6 year old boy who became
completely dry as soon as a council flat was found for the family. The
sleeping conditions in this family had been particularly bad.
Of recent months a system of waking certain children one hour
before their normal waking time has proved very effective. This appears
to rule out a large number of "pre-waking enuretics" who have described
dreams of "being in the toilet" and who have woken too late to control
the act of micturition.
Finally, it has been interesting to note that the 6—8 year old child
is much more responsive to treatment than the younger child, and the
child over 10 years of age is' usually a much more difficult problem.
In general, the attitudes of both parents and children have been of
interest and co-operation."