Source 6O

Mrs L.C. of Cardiff, says she has been ailing since marriage. She was a housemaid in private service before and was never ill. She is now 39. She has had six children (all still living at home) and one miscarriage; she has a fairhouse but no bathroom or hot water, which she missessadly. She is badly constipated and has piles and has had bad backacheever since herfirst confinement which was a difficult one.She now has also palpitation and cardiac pains. For none of these has she consulted anyone, but she listens to the wireless talks on health. She makes no complaints and after her remark about the lack of hot water and a bathroom she says hopefullythings will ease up a bit soon when the children grow older.She is however only 39 and her two youngest children are 4 and 3!

(M. Spring Rice, Working Class Wives: Health and Conditions, 1939, reprinted London, 1981, p.79 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] )