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in her brain. Out of 135 deaths, 61 were first-born, and it cannot be
argued that this period marks the direst poverty in the history of the
family.
This ignorance is seen at its worst in the case of illegitimate
children, and its results are deplorable. Of the total births, 39 were
born out of wedlock, and 22 illegitimate children died before reaching
the age of 12 months. These numbers correspond to an illegitimate
infantile mortality of 564 per 1,000 births. Eleven of these
deaths were due to errors of feeding—10 from Diarrhoea and one
from Marsamus. In spite of the fact that the mortality amongst illegitimate
children was more than four times as high as that of children
born in wedlock, there was no evidence of any wilful neglect. The
standard of living, though, in all instances was low, and there was a
lack of personal and domestic cleanliness. All were artificially fed,
as the mothers were compelled to earn their own living, and their offspring
were deprived of the natural food of the infant. The illegitimate
child is exposed to all the disadvantages of married female
labour, and derives none of its benefits; as is shown when dealing
with Diarrhoea, the hand-fed child fares ill as compared with his
bieast-fed brother, but the illegitimate child has to contend with
other conditions which are inimical to his welfare.
At the present time, it may almost be stated that the only educational
work amongst the poorer classes in domestic economy and
the elementary laws of hygiene is carried out through the Health
Visitor. To render the work of the latter really efficient, it should
be supplemental to the work of educational authorities.
Direct teaching upon the rearing of infants may be out of place
in elementary schools, or even in secondary schools, but the value
of a Health Visitor would be greatly augmented if the elementary
laws of hygiene had been inculcated into the mothers when they attended
school as children. A large number of the mothers have not
formed habits of cleanliness and care of the person, and, unfortunately,
before the sanitary authority hears of the birth of a child irreparable
damage has often been done. In England, a birth need not
be registered for a period of six weeks. In Scotland this period has
been shortened to three weeks. In France, civil registration has to be