(_a_) Husband, labourer, but when at work spends most of his earnings
in drink. Now four children under six years. The last one born died,
aged five months, of consumption. Mother consumptive. I should say all
the children are consumptive. Mother is, and I should say always has
been, in a starved condition. A woman that would give the food to the
children and starve herself, having always practically two babies in
arms, and unable to go out to work, if she could obtain it, to bring
a little money in the home. It would also be wrong to give her work,
even her home duties being too much for her strength. No help wanted
for the man in this case. He’s too artful to starve, but wicked enough
to live to continue a cause for anxiety. Nothing but food or death of
husband or wife will alter this case. A sad case; a hard problem to
solve.
(_b_) Husband, builder’s labourer. Wife employed at laundry. Five
children under eleven years of age. Husband out of work ten weeks
previous to wife’s confinement. During the time the home depending
solely upon the wife’s earnings. Wife, owing to lack of nourishment,
in a very low, weak condition, and suffering much from varicose veins.
Fourteen days prior to birth of child, being practically unable to
stand, gave up her duties at laundry. The following day a vein burst; a
very serious case. None of the previous children are very strong; but
what about the last one, with the mother practically starved prior to
its birth?
(_c_) A very similar case. Husband a labourer; work uncertain. All
money he earned goes into the home. Eight children under eleven years.
Woman always much underfed, owing to insufficient money coming into the
home. She is never well.