When Melba was born, her scalp was injured and she got an infection. Why didn't her health improve immediately?

Melba's health didn't improve immediately because the white nurses neglected to continue with the necessary treatment that would have cured Melba of her infection.
When Melba was born, the doctor had injured her scalp with the forceps. As a result of this, Melba later incurred a massive infection. Accordingly, the doctor had ordered an Epsom salts and warm water treatment every two or three hours, but the white nurses had neglected to be diligent about continuing the treatment. Melba's mother only found out about the treatment by chance, when a black janitor mentioned what he heard the doctor tell a nurse in the operating room. Accordingly, the nurses were supposed to use an Epsom salts and warm water concoction to irrigate Melba's head.
After she confirmed this fact with a nurse, Melba's mother then continued the treatment herself. After two days, Melba's health began to improve, and she eventually made a full recovery.