The Morning herald., 1876-07-19
FOR SHERIFF,
ISAAC GRUBB.
FOR CORONER,
DAVID c. ROSE.
SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTs.


SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS.
Last week in New York 1898 persons
died, which was an increase of 440 over
the previous week, and of 355 over the
corresponding week in 1875; s62 were
children under five years of age, and Of
these 649 were under one year. This
means that two out of every three who
died were children under five years of age,
and exactly one in every two were infants
under ene year. This is truly appalling,
outstripping by far the worst mortality Of
the slums Of London, or Berlin; in fact
mortality in Paris being far below that of
either of the cities named. What is the
cause, is it food, impure air, imperfect
drainage, or maternal neglect?
Philadelphia shows bad exhibit, but
fortunately falls behind New York in in
fant mortality. Last week there were S54
deaths in that city, AT of whom were
children under five years, and 337 under
one year. This exhibit enables us to con-
clude that the tenement system is fatal to
infant life and that it is one of the drains
upon the growth Of population that will
always be source of national weakness.
The same tale comes to us from Balli-
more, Boston, Brooklyn, and Cincinnati in
fact from every city Of over 10000 inhab.
itants in the Republic. We have no gen.
eral statistics before US, but deducing
from those-making very large allowance
for the raral population, it is safe tc say,
that one out of every four children born in
America die before their first year. This
shocking mortality mainly takes place
within June, July, and August.
Our own city is not exempt from the
scourge Of infant mortality, as the per
centage of deaths here are almost as high
as that Of Berlin, with twenty times our
population. Is there higher or holier
object than to organize and try to stay the
march Of death, the depopulation of the
little cradles and cribs beside which ma
ternal hearts are throbbing, to bursting,-
as the angel of death strikes and passes on
ward We have in our mind, cultured
large hearted doctors, who would gladly
compile directions to mothers, how
to notice and treat incipient disease. Facts
ofthat kind scattered broadcast, 80 as to come
within the notice of all, would do more
good in one Summer, than all the solemn
piety which passes through the presses of
the various religious associations in de-
cade. A few days air, good food and milk,
would so tone up many an infant, as to ar
NOR it against an attack of our summer
complaint.
Practically cannot this be done. There
are many citizens of Wilmington, who
have farms in this vicinity; or there are
beautiful dells, and forest openings--we
know Of many along shellpot creek,
within few minutes drive of this city
Let the kind-hearted organize. Who will
head the column in mecrys march. One
Y ord of advice to mot hers, if your infant
j. sick and dropping, don't dose it with
'iamily medicine Or patent nostrums send
i,r, or bring it to a physician early, and
we promise, you will save your child's life
We pretend to have fair share of medi
cal knowledge-that is the knowledge ;
layman would have, and we never risket
prescribing for one of our children. w
have quite number cS them. l
child shows symptoms of illness we sent
for our doctor, and we firmly believe tha
we have thus saved physicians bills. w
have paid but trihe indeed to undertak
ers. Moral, don't use quack medicines
and send for doctor if child is sick.