Observations on some of the causes of infanticide / by George Greaves.

  • Greaves, George.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on some of the causes of infanticide / by George Greaves. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Wilful murder 3 Natural causes 85 Disease (chiefly convulsions) 33 Accidental suffocation 11 “ scalds or burns. 24 “ drowning 2 “ over-dose of medicine 2 Other accidents 6 Found dead 10 176 Their ages were— New-born 13 1 to 7 days 4 7 “ 14 « 1 14 days to 1 month 10 1 to 3 months 44 3 “ 6 “ 29 6 “ 9 “ 20 9 “ 12 “ 14 12 “ 18 “ 24 18 “ 24 “ 17 176 Of the three instances in which a verdict of “ wilful murder ” was returned, not one led to any further proceedings,—the police having failed in obtaining such evidence as would have justified an indict- ment against any individual. It will, perhaps, be asked, were there no indictments for the minor offence of concealment of birth ? Unquestionably, the birth of a considerable number of the children on whom inquests were held was concealed. In the city of Man- chester, one woman was indicted for this offence, and, on conviction, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. In the Manchester division of the county there was also one such indictment, and the prisoner was acquitted. No allusion has yet been made to one mode in which great facility is given for the safe commission of child-murder. The law takes no
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