146 PROBLEMS OF VILLAGE LIFE 



of the village. To go no further, any measure 

 which frees the country cottage from doctors' 

 bills deserves the gratitude of the poor. 

 Formerly in cases of illness the payment of 

 even the humblest fees formed a crushing 

 burden on the slender exchequers of the 

 cottage. Three doctor's visits at 2/6, apart 

 altogether from loss of work, would bring many 

 families to the brink of temporary starvation 

 and destitution. So real was the dread of 

 these liabilities that the calling in of the 

 doctor was frequently delayed at the risk of 

 dangerous and even fatal results. In the case 

 of childbirth the extra expenses formed so 

 formidable an item that mothers frequently 

 incurred grave injury from a too early resump- 

 tion of home or field work. At present, a young 

 couple, with, say, a new baby every two years, 

 may find almost the whole of the contributions 

 returned for these special needs in addition to 

 the ordinary benefits of their insurance. 



There are two obvious and primary items 

 in any scheme of rural reform the erection 

 of decent cottages and an increase in wages. 

 But the landowner who earnestly desires to 

 see the labourers better housed is at once 

 faced with the fact that cottage building in 

 the country is, as a rule, unremunerative 

 business. No cottage constructed of stone, 



