Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-08-31
The Slaughter of the Innocents.


tculsr localities, but few seem to be aware of
the frighttully large percentage Of infant NOR
taiiy year by year, compared with the whole
number of deaths Of all ages. The mortality
tables prepared by Dr. j. II. Toner, OF this city,
whose careful and Intelligent labors in gather
ing the vital statistics of the country, have been
referred to heretofore, pre- ent some startling
facts in this connection. These tables show the
annual mortality in several of the States, and
in a number of our large cities, made up from
their Published reports for the years named,
giving the whole number of deaths, and also the
number dying under five years of age; the num-
Der dying between five and ten years; also, the
number dying from cholera infantam, with the
FER cent Of each class.
The census of the United States for 1850
showed per centage OF 1916 OF deaths of chill
dren under years of age to the fetal deaths OF
all ages; and the per centage in the census of
1s6O had increased to 43I5. The mortality
under in the great cities OF the country has
risen TO a much higher rate, the highest being
IN Chicago, where it has mounted from a per
centage OF 2S.67 in 1s43 to 62S3 in 1869. In 1868
the number of deaths of children under to the
total deaths of all ages stood in that city in the
frightful proportion of 3,7l3 OF the former to
5,9s+ of the latter, and in 1863 it had risen to
4,C17 unGer to 6,iss over that age.
Next comes st. Louis, where, in 1871, the per
9 being 800 to 6 ,670 above.
Ranging about the same as st. Louis is the
per centage OF infant mortality in New York.
In New York city in 1863 the per centage was
5lO9; the number of deaths under in tn At year
being 1859 to 25,lG7 above. In that city ii
would appear, however, that the proportion of
deaths under is rather diminishing than other
wise, as during the series OF years from 1885 to
1855 it had ranged from 81 O2 to 57.iO, while in
- -,
1s69 but 51G9. In the year 1911 the mortality in
New York amongst the children seems 70 have
been exceptionally large, as the per centsge was
T7.C9; the number OF deaths under being I9I6
to :. 81 above that age. In PHILADELPHIA, too,
the chances of the little folks in the ght for life
seems 70 be rather improving, IS the per cent
age Of deaths Inder stood rs high as 5l.s7 in
lass and DIPS in 1861, while from 1852 to 1859 IL
has ranged from 49, % to 1868 and in 1870 was
but 4IZ1.
Next TO New York in infant mortality comes
Baltimore with its per eeutsge, in 1879, of 20 S.
under years, though the proportion has in
creased but little since iSCO, when IL stood 4sII.
Cincinnati in IS6s had a per centIge OF 1853
under .; and Philadelphia, IS above stated the
next b. .hestper centage. In New Orleans the
returns are brought downonly to 1S55 when the
Per Centage was 43 g. Providence, X. L., seems
40 be a favorable place for the little ones as
the mortality under has not from ls65 10 1870,
been above $3.50.
In this city the mortality returns have been
so inadeIuately made tsat only scattered sta
tistiCs covering separate years can be obtained.
In lSi9 the number of deaths under was 400, to
SEQ above; per centsge OF 46IS. In 1sJ2 there
we're at deaths under 8, ID 1,1I5 aboYe per
centage OF 490J. In 1875 the per centays Was
AIS, tie number of deaths under beius 100 to
49, above.
Tie mortality statistics of Richmond presant
some curious features, showing that while the
number Z: deaths Of colored children under 3 Il
nearly two TO one that OF the whites of the same
age; Tie proportion OF white children diving o.
cholera iIfantum is nearly double the coorei
mortality from the same disease, there being 400
white deaths in 1869 of cholera infantum to go
colored in the same year in that city.
In view Of the appalling proportion of infant
mortality, especially in our large cities. shown
by the statistics above referred to, DIR. Toner
some time ago called attention to the necessity
for adopting some general measures tor cheek
ing this vast waste of infant life. We have
various humane institutions, insane asylums,
&c, to alleviate the sufierings and leng then out
the lives OF the wrecks Of humanity, but we
have literally nothing to stay the immense
waste OF life of the hopeful young, full of great
promise. 1t is certainly better to provide for
the preservation of the lives of those who will
grow into usefulness, than to confine all our
humane efforts to guarding the health Of the
hopelesslv shattered wrecks.
OF course wealthy parents have it in their
power to remove their ailing children to purer
air, but it is an unpleasant task for a physician
TO say to parents, unable to meet the expense,
that the life of a child suffering from cholera
infsntum depends on its being removed TO
another locality. To meet this difficulty, DR..
-
at elevated points, where parents, or mothers
and nurses, may camp out in the summer
months in such style as suits their means or con-
venienee, either in tents or cheap cottages
Cities and communities should feel it a mo-al
duty TO aid in any measure OF the kind for the
preservation of infantile life. Cheap fare, or
free fare, should be furnished 20 poor women
with their sick babes, and they should be aided
with Taticns on the ground. PhiIaathropic
people no doubt would willingly aid, if the means
were pointed out, in some systematic measure
OF relief for the suffering little ones who perish
0y the thousands yearly in our large cities
iOr want OF air and attention. The
child IN such cases is not sick, but Is su feriny
simply IRON excess OF heat. There is no solid
tissue In the infant. Ii is virtually all LIQUID; it
gets heated up and deterioration takes place
What is wanted is to keep down the tsmpera-
ture- Iufants do not persPire as Adults do; but
The process OF retained heat goes on with them,
and they suffer accordingly. Evaporation
should be encouraged; they should be sponged
frequently and exposed to the air as much as
possible; and above all there should be no dan
neIs next 10 the skin in hot weather. Many
mothers really destroy all chances their ailing
babes have for life by baudaging them with
tannels, and sedulously keeping them ont of the
fresh air lest they should take cold in draught.
Infants, for the reasons above explained, can
hardly have too much air,
Inc Old ruism that when a person begins to
go down hill every one assists with q generous
but no less eNpediiDg kick, Is being forcibly IL
Illustrated by the pending Presidential cam paien.
wherein DR.. Greeley is catching 1t thick and
last on AL sides kyen the deluded followers OF
the "sose" (but for how long . hyn.?) are AL
ready suffering the penalty Of their indiscra.
tons, ride the following advertisement ON,
from the New York Herald: