Not diarrhea, so scrofula

Quote Explanation: This proverb was originally about children's health. It is known that a synonym for the word diarrhea is diarrhea, and today scrofula is called diathesis. Both diarrhea and scrofula used to be treated for a long time. In the families of peasants, all family members were engaged in field or other types of work throughout the year. Therefore, each pair of hands was counted. Even young mothers with babies went out into the field. The only ones who were released from work were sick people and mothers whose child was currently ill. Therefore, such an expression was said about mothers, whose children were constantly sick, and this gave the woman the right to temporarily not work. Hence the spread of constant troubles.