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filled with adults, smoking, and with the air so hot and
close, that a healthy person could scarcely breathe. That
fourth child died also. In one case in the Royal-mews,
Buckingham Palace, where a child died of diphtheria, the
mother could not be persuaded that there was any harm
in the escape of foul sewer gases from a neglected trap,
in the room where the child slept. Some good might be
done, if a parochial nurse could be employed to go round
to the poor and assist them in the management of their
sick children; or if there were a ward into which sick
children could be received. These measures however
would not relieve the wants of a whole parish; and we
are convinced the time is now come, when one distinct
object of education, of sanitary measures, and of benevolent
aid must be to teach the poor to help themselves,
and not to rely upon others. Even in relation to sanitary
measures we meet with people who expect, that the simplest
act of precaution shall be done for them, and who
will not move a finger for themselves.
We always notice such of the accidental deaths, as
point to important defects in education or morals.
Amongst them will be found in the Table with "causes
not specified," those of four infants found in the streets or
in Hyde Park. In each case the coroner's jury gave an
open verdict on the ground, that it was doubtful, whether
they had been born alive or not. We must hesitate,
therefore, to designate them as cases of child-murder,
although we may remonstrate against the indecency of
such a mode of disposing of dead children. A gas fitter
was poisoned by gas at No. 20, Mount-street, a child was
suffocated when in bed with its mother at No. 1, Bloomfield-place,
another child was scalded by hot water thrown
over by himself, and a person took a dose of cyanide of
potassium in mistake for a black draught.