Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-16

MORTALITY OF CHILDREN IN RrssiA.-A ter.
rible picture OF the mortality Of children in
Russia Is given in journal called the R0Msk~
Dnera'k. II appears that vast proportion oy
this premature death is RSSignable TO that care.
lessness Of mothers which continually expose
children TO fatal accidents THE indifference
of our peasantry," observed writer in the
journa! above mentioned" with respect to theic
children exceeds all belief They give them.
selves not the least concern about their Of
spring The consequence is that only very
small proportion OF the children brought into
the world reach maturity. The mortality OF
chiliren under five years Of age is, no doubt,
considerable in all countries, bat in Russia IL
IS frightful. Many more than one-half Of the
ci i.dren born in this country die In the very
earliest period OF infancy. Oae-eigiith die be-
tween the ages o. five and ten, und another
eighth between ten and twesty thus three
fourths perish beIore reaching mature aga.
Where are ne to look for the cause of this
mortality 1t cannot be referred to climate,
for throughout the whole extent OF Russis
there is 10 climate more inimical to health
than that of ST. Petersburg; and vet in tho
capital the deaths in infancy ure not as ir 9th.
er parts OF the empire, in the proportion Of one
half, but only OF Une-third, to the births The
reason is that the children are more cared for,
and their physical development is better ct.
tended 10 III st. Petersburg than in the prov.
uces. Tie ignorance aid superstition OF tho
lower classes Of the people have, in many To-.
stances, most fatal influence on the manage.
ment Of children OF this the following tacts
afford melancholy example Last August
small pOx OF q very malignant character broke
out in several villages Of the government of Vo-
ronetZ, aud made fearful ravages among the
children of both sexes The activity Of the
disease was considerably heightened by the hu.
mid climate, the uncleanneSs Of the people, the
bad quality aud scantiness Of food, and the iR-
norance aid negligence of mothers in the treat.
nent Of patients. A physician residing ia one
Of the infected districts found Young child
suffering under most terrible attack of small
pox. He offered his professional assistance.
which was obstinateIy rejected by the mother,
who observed that if it were written that her
child must die, no doctor could save him. How.
ever, the poor woman was fondly attached to
her child, and at length she yielded to the doc
tors recommendations, aud said Well you
may try to cure him, and may God help you
On being asked why the child had not been
yaccinated, she replied that when the men came
into the village to yaccinate the children she
hid her boy, and though the men came into her
hut several times they could not find him Vac.
cina'io! she obserTed, was an impious practice,
and she could rot charge her conscience with
the sin OF making her child victim of it
But said the doctor, you could have been
compelled to have your child yacciuated' Tho
woman shook her head sorrowfulIy, and weps.
Another woman who happened to be present.
said that she had child, and that If any doc.
tor were to vaccinate it she would suck tho
matter or even bite out the piece of flesh with
her teeth to prevent the dabolical operation
taking effect. This opinion on the subject Of
vaccination is general among the Ruskolniks.
or schismatics, of the district Of Kcrotoiak; bus
il also prevails in districts in which thsre ia no
schism. The Russian peasantry generally look
upon doctor with diStrust and, in cases OF
sickness. they invariably prefer the assistance
Of the village sorcerer"-Bt.!lc!iz