Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait.

  • Tait, William
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ^ (Where) (Qiey are unknown^ and Avhere they may again for a time preservelheir status in the higliest ranks of prostitutes, ^y re- moving in this mannc^from place to place,(they keep themselves) for a series of years(fi'om falling into a state of clecayj)ancl(^if they are successful in their struggle against the pressure down- wards^^iey gen^ra]l3(iiave by this tira^ saved a little,^^ have ^securecmhe friendship^of feome one) who is(able to assist them^in Opening an establishment for themselveSj} which is the utmost height of their ambition. ^11 of them^being in a great measur^sensible of their degraded condition^ and of the contempt in which they are held by other members of the community, andQn one sense^i^olated from the world^ they court the society of_one another,^and form ties^f fi-iendship and fidelity^ which no circumsTaiices will dissever, ^ost of the classe^in tSTmaraierjingle freqi^ntly together,^ to receive a^s^d administer acts of kindness a\^d charity; for, (if one of the frail sisterhood\be disabled by disease\or ot|^erwise^ i (thoseVwho are in happier circumstances 0ock to her with relief) | In this friendly intercourse which is kept up amongst them, they in some measure acquire the manners of each other; and in this way bad habits and customs are formed, which may be said to be common to the whole community of abandoned women, and to which, before entering upon a description of the Different Classes of Prostitutes, and the manners and habits peculiar to each, it is necessary shortly to advert. (dissipation of prostitutes.^^ ^ ^n inordinate desire for intoxicating liquors) is mentioned by high^elet^as one of the^ief moral defectsjin the^haracter)of J)restitutes,)and is attributed by him to(the ignorance of soldiersjy sailors,\and all classes who, knowing froin experience how much ^enereal complaints are aggravated by intemperance^nagin^that ^omen)(^vho will not drink to excess)^re only sober because they are contaminated^ If there be any analogy between the condi- tion of the prostitutes of Paris and those of Edinburgh, this opinion has been founded on a very superficial and partial view of