the home. There are societies that provide a nurse and baby-linen
at such times. Some families are so degraded that they look forward to
times of confinement as times of plenty (see family cited on p. 55),
and in these cases nothing but hospital care should be offered, while
we place the children temporarily in institutions or with neighbors.
For the destitute sick outside of hospitals, district nurses are now
provided in many cities. When these nurses are careful to instruct
well members of the household in the care of the sick, their influence
is especially helpful, and they are often able not only to relieve
suffering, but to raise the standard of living in the home. Diet
kitchens, supplying food specially {104} prepared for the sick either
free or at a nominal cost, are also found in many of our cities.

With all the charities provided for the sick, there is still need of
better provision in this country for convalescents, who are sent from
the hospitals too weak to resume work, and still needing rest, good
food, and pure air to effect a complete cure.

Two classes of invalids remain to be mentioned in this condensed
summary. First, accident cases, in which the visitor must be careful
to see that legal redress is obtained when the case is one for damages,
and must, at the same time, protect the victim from lawyers who are
glad to take a sure case for "half the proceeds." Second, incurables,
for whom homes are provided requiring an entrance fee, or for whom,
more often, nothing remains but the almshouse. The visitor can
sometimes secure the cooperation of friends and charities interested,
and so raise enough money to provide the fee for such an invalid, when,
without cooperation, as much money and more would be spent and the
patient remain in the end unprovided for. Charitable people often
{105} get tired; they will do a great deal for a while, and will then
get interested elsewhere, and grudge the help that is still needed. In
view of this failing, it is much better, in making plans for
incurables, to secure a lump sum that will make adequate provision,
than to depend upon the continued interest of a number of people.

The migration of invalids is the last point upon which I shall attempt
to touch under this head. Any one who has visited California, Florida,
Colorado, or any other part of our country where climatic conditions
are supposed to be favorable for invalids, will realize the
irresponsible way