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]
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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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    but it is well known that scrofula, consumption,* and other disorders are frequently due to the nurse ; it will be understood, therefore, how great a risk to the child is incurred by the employment of a wet- nurse under any circumstances. Such being the facts of the case, the writer wishes to suggest the propriety—it might be said the necessity—of insti- tuting some restrictive means by which women should be prevented lending themselves for hire in this objectionable manner, and some compulsory measures might be adopted with regard to capable mothers suckling their own infants.*] * Scrofula and consumption are both dependent on the deposit of a cheesy substance (tubercle) ; in scrofula, this happens in the neck and other glands, in consumption it takes place in the lungs. They are different manifestations of the same tendency. There seems, therefore, no impropriety in speaking of them as dis- tinct forms of disease, although due to the same condition of blood. *f This may appear an extreme proceeding to advocate ; but a simi- lar plan has been proposed in the Lancet, and those who are inclined to take a fair and impartial view of the matter, will consider the sug- gestion reasonable and right. After remarking in strong terms upon the evils of the system alluded to, the following passage occurs :— If the mother can afford a wet-nurse, she can also pay for a certificate from a responsible and official medical man, nominated by the state, of the fitness of the nurse ; that her infant's need shall not be supplied at the risk of the life of another human being. The number of wet-nurses in large towns who are fitted for the duties they undertake, is but small, and, inefficiency is fraught with danger to the child. It is a sad truth, that such vicarious aid is often sought without necessity, becaiise some foolish, vain woman desires to preserve the outline which she calls her ' figure,' or to get rid of the burden of fulfilling a mother's duties. Such an official referee, as that above alluded to, would be a check to these proceedings. Medical Annotations;