Probus Club of Evesham

“AT the end of my talk you’ll know when you should boil a mouse in urine” said Malcolm Watkins.

Malcolm, the former archaeologist, curator and manager of Gloucester City Council was our guest speaker at the 6 April meeting of the Probus Club of Evesham. We have had talks on some unusual subjects recently but never as odd as this one nor one that was so thought provoking.

The focus of his superb presentation was child-bearing and child-rearing in the 17th century. We learned that boiling mice in urine was an old remedy for a childcare problem.

We also learned that pink and red were considered masculine colours, that blue was reserved for girls to indicate chastity and purity and that midwives were sworn on oath to preserve the lives of both poor and rich babies.

Malcolm illustrated his talk with numerous pictures of paintings of childbirth and children. He spoke about teething pegs and the use of the early condoms which were used both to limit the spread of disease as well as preventing pregnancy.

He referred to wet-nurses and swaddling bands, with swaddled babies hung from a nail in the kitchen. And he showed a picture of a swaddled baby in the Savage memorial in the church at Elmley Castle.

Judging by the number of our questions at the end of Malcolm’s magnificent presentation he had provoked considerable discussion as well as much laughter and bemusement.

However, Richard Dorrell was the only member who knew what mice boiled in urine cured. And members of the Probus Club who were at today’s presentation will be happy to explain to any readers how don’t know.

Richard Lawrence thanked Malcolm on our behalf and confessed he didn’t think the church at Elmley Castle would have featured in a discussion of boiled mice.

Information about our Club, including our programme of forthcoming talks, is on our website: www.eveshamprobus.co.uk.

CHRIS DONOUGH