The practice of hiring wet nurses (especially those from the 'fallen') considered, as it affects public health and public morals : a paper contributed to the Public Health Department of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, at the Bradford meeting, October, 1859.

  • Baines, Mary Anne.
Date:
[1859]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The practice of hiring wet nurses (especially those from the 'fallen') considered, as it affects public health and public morals : a paper contributed to the Public Health Department of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, at the Bradford meeting, October, 1859. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    It is not inmrobable, that the old objection may be raised against such a plan, which so often proves obstructive in the case of other schemes for social and sanitary improvement, viz., that individual privileges must be respected. To this it may be answered, that no individual has a right to exercise his or her personal privileges, to the prejudice or injury of the many. The question is not one of individual right, but of social wrong ; and all persons who contribute to such wrong, through neglecting a duty to their children, or in any other manner, must be amenable to preventive or punitive laws, as the case may be. If such laws be wanting, it is the duty of the State, in its paternal character, to frame some measure which is likely to remedy the abuses referred to. 2nd. The injudicious feeding and tending to which infants are too often subjected, is a prolific cause of sickness and mortality. The great question, or inquiry, that has been lately undergoing scientific investigation, viz., What is the most fitting food for infants ? might very pro- perly be considered here, as an important portion of the subject in hand; it would, however, occupy too much time and space, to enter into it as fully as it deserves. But those who are interested in this matter, are referred to a pamphlet by Dr. C. H. F. Routh (Physician to the Samaritan Free Hospital), wherein the dangers and disadvantages of wet-nursing are