Inquiry into the treatment, condition and mortality of infant children in the workhouse of the North Dublin Union.

  • Nicholls, George, Sir, 1781-1865.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Inquiry into the treatment, condition and mortality of infant children in the workhouse of the North Dublin Union. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    17th December, 1841. Miss Esmond. 80 EVIDENCE ON THE TREATMENT, CONDITION, AND MORTALITY could best regulate the times and periods at which they should he fed?—Yes, hut I gave them my opinion as to what I thought ought to be done, and I left them to follow that opinion, without any compulsion whatever. 1340. Were there any Infants under your care without Mothers?—Yes, Orphans. 1341. To whose charge did you entrust those children ?—To persons I thought would best care them, those who had children of their own, and had been married. 1342. But had those persons children nursing at the time ?—No, I never gave an Orphan in care to a woman who had her own child to nurse at the same time ; hut I gave an Orphan child to a woman who had been married. 1343. And did you give food to those persons, and leave the distribution of it to their dis- cretion, as you would to the Mother of the child ?—I was more particular in the cases of Orphan Children, I saw that they got, if necessary, an increase of milk, I sent the children down to the Doctor, and if he thought it necessary, he increased the quantity of milk. 1344. What steps did you take to see that the children had the food which the Guardians said they should have ?—I made choice of the best person I could get to nurse the child, and I depended upon her to give the food to the child. 1345. Did you give a certain portion of food to the Nurse in order that she might give it to the child if she thought proper ?-—Yes. 1346. Did you understand that it was your duty to see that the food of the children was properly provided for them ?—I saw them get their food from the Dining Hall, each woman came with her vessel to receive the quantity allowed, she got half a pint of milk, she crumb- led the bread into it, and fed the child at any hour she pleased, at half past ten, or any time she wished; they all received the food from the Dining-Room. 1347. Was it your intention that the children should be fed upon boiled milk and bread ?— That is the usual way of feeding children. 1348. But did you feel it your duty to give the children boiled bread and milk three times a day ?—No, Sir; but they had it, they received it from the Dining Hall boiled, and they had the privilege of warming it themselves when they liked. 1349. Has 'that been the plan adopted?—That has been the plan adopted from the very commencement of the house. 1350. Was it ever represented to you that it was desirable there should be placed in the Day-room, beds or cradles, in order that the Infant children might be put to sleep] there ?— Yes. 1351. Was a representation ever made to you from the Medical Officers to the effect that there should be beds or cradles provided, or did you receive any instructions from the Board, or the Master of the Workhouse upon the subject ? Did it ever occur to you that it was necessary to provide the means of putting those Infants to sleep ?—I did, the beds were laid down in the Wards. 1352. Gould they get to those beds during the day ?—Yes, there were women appointed to take care of them, and if the Mother thought right, she placed the Infant in the bed. 1353. Did you observe that the Mothers generally availed themselves of the privilege ?— In some cases they did, in others they did not. 1354. Did the Mothers make use of the privilege more than the women who had the care of the Orphans ?—I made no observation of that kind. 1355. Mr. Phelan Did the Mothers in general prefer that the children should sleep in their own arms ?—They appeared to do so. 1356. Mr. Hall.—Was the Dormitory always open for the women in which they could put the children to sleep ?—Yes, the general practice has been to leave the Dormitory open. 1357. Was it not reported to you that it would be beneficial to the health of the children if they were taken into the Garden ?—Yes. 1358. Did the Board ever give an order to that effect ?—Yes. 1359. Were they ever let into the Garden in consequence ?—Yes, and it was very difficult to get them out. 1360. Mr. Phelan.—What was difficult ?—To induce the women to go into the Garden. 1361. Mr. Hall.—Were you obliged to use means to enforce that order of the Board?— Yes. 1362. You* are obliged to make it a point of discipline with the Mothers ?—Yes, the order was that they should attend to it. 1363. Upon fine days ?—Yes. 1364. Did you ever receive orders to discontinue that practice?—No. 1365. Mr. Sinnot How comes it then that the practice has been discontinued?—Owing to the state of the weather. 1366. Mr. Hall.— Is it a fact that it has been discontinued?—No, the last fine day—last Tuesday week—they were out. 1367. Mr. Sinnot.—Would you not consider this a fine day?—No, I would call this a very cold day. 1368 Mr. Hall.—When were they out before last Tuesday week?—When the weather permitted, but I cannot exactly call to mind the day. 1369. Have you ever endeavoured to prevent them from going into the Garden when they expressed a desire to go into it ?—No, I did not; it was not in my power to let them into the Garden, until I got the order ; It has been acted on ever since. 1370 How often did they go into the Garden ?—It entirely depended on the state of the weather,