The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-03
IN FRANCE.

The rapid falling off in the birth rate
in France has provoked a discussion of
causes and remedies. which has filed
the medical and sociological journals
and has even invaded the chamber OF
deputies. In 1874 the birth rate in
France was 27.l per 1000 population In
1899 ii was 21.1. The death rate has not
varied SO much during the period
named but has kept steadily near %
per 1000. and in several years has ex-
ceeded the birth rate. During the last
fifty years France has gained only g.
100000 in population, while Italv has
gained 100000, Austria, 15,500,000,
Great Britain 100000, Germany 21,-
0O0,00 the United States 100000 and
Russia 62000,000. There is now bill
pending in the French chamber of dep
uties providing for graduated tax
upon unmarried persons, increasing
rapidly in amount upon both women
and men between q and 40 years OF
age.
Statistics taken by Bertillon show
that for every 1000 women between the
ages of is and 35 the following is the
| average of mothers:
Per 1000.
| In the very rich districts ...,.,.....,.....,,. -
III inr rlrn districts
| Among people comfortably of ......,,....,. 6j
| Among the mercantile classes ............... y
| Among mechanics and farmers ............... fLJ
| Among ordinary labOIers Observation-Disclosures. los
The late census shows that of the 49,
100000 population of France there are:
| Bachelors over so years of age ...,.... l3I6,j9l
| Families without children ............ 3SkS,ji2
| Families with one child ,..,.,.,,,.,., 1,630,sSl
Families with two children ...,........ 236i, ,s3i
lsna .rtt .l,t EEn l..l
Families with more than three children l222,llo
THE REASONS WHY.
The Medical Brief. one of the ablest
| and most influential professional jour
mails in France. calls attention to the
appalling prevalence of child murder in
that country, due first to the indiffer-
ence of fashionable women to children.
Those who are mothers usually leave
their babes to the care of nurses who
neglect them and done them with OPT
ates in order 10 keeU them asleep as
much as possible. Second, the indiffer-
ence of working women. who in order
to earn wages, place their children on
baby farms where they are slowly mur-
dered by lack of nourishment, improper
food. neglect of proper attention and
the use of laudanum to stop them from
fretting. Third, and finally, by the
general prevalence of manual labor by
women Immediately before and after
confinement. This paper recommends
the enactment of a law prohibiting the
sale of opiates and sooting syrups of all
kinds and making ii n felony to give
them to children. 1t would also punish
severely the keepers of baby farms who
give improper food to infants and keep
them under rigid system of inspec-
tion. II would forbid the use OF rubber
tubes to feeding bottles because of the
difficulty of keeping them sterilzed,
and would forbid mothers from work.
ing six weeks before and six weeks af-
ter confinement.
IN GERMANY.
1t is an interesting fact that the aN-
erage number of marriages i'm Ger
many is gradually increasing. Twenty
years ago the ratio was only fifteen
marriages Il year to every 1000 of the
population, and in 1881 il fell below the
fifteen mark. but AN Improvement has
been shown annually ever since until
now the marriage rate is nearly eight
cen per 1000 of population.