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80.
varied activities of the Care Committee, Miss Sargent
lias kindly compiled the following description of illustrative
cases : —
A. was suffering from abdominal tuberculosis and was in
Hospital when we first heard of her. Prolonged sanatorium
treatment was recommended but the fact that she had a
husband and three little girls made it difficult for her to
accept this, especially as both she and her husband refused
to allow the children to be boarded out under the care of
the United Services Fund. The Committee were loth to
leave the children in the care of the father at home, as he
was known to drink heavily and finally they were placed
under the care of the Public Assistance Committee in
Fulham, where he could see them.
\
A. departed into Cornwall and shortly afterwards we
learnt that the children were back with their father at
the flat. A relative was looking after them by day but
they were alone with him at night and A. was worried
about them and wishing to take her discharge. Much
"Friendly Visiting" ensued in the effox-t to make better
arrangements and finally the N.S.P.C.C. Inspector was
asked to call and see the father, and keep the case under
supervision.
Fortunately, the results of his visiting were very
satisfactory. The relative agreed to live in the fiat altogether
and to have the children to sleep in her room while
the man pulled himself together, at any rate for the time,
and was said to be "quite different" since the Inspector's
visit. A. remained away almost to the end of her time
and returned much benefitted.
B. first came to us at the end of 1926 at the age of 18. She
was then quite unfit to carry on her work as a clerk and
was sent to Grove Park Hospital where she remained for
a year, returning home wonderfully better and after a few
weeks' rest, started light work which she was able to
carry on for nearly twelve months. She then broke down
and was again sent to Grove Park for a long spell.
She returned home in August just after her twentyfirst
birthday with no prospect of recovery or even of
living for very long. The financial circumstances were
very straightened as her widowed mother with whom she
lived, had only a small pension and was most averse to
applying to the Public Assistance Committee.
A grant of milk and eggs was obtained from the Town
Hall and the Charity Organisation Society helped most
generously during the three remaining months of B.'s life,