Inquiry into the treatment, condition and mortality of infant children in the workhouse of the North Dublin Union.

  • Nicholls, George, Sir, 1781-1865.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Inquiry into the treatment, condition and mortality of infant children in the workhouse of the North Dublin Union. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    14th December, 1841. Dr. Duncan. all the rest of the children were in good health ; I think some of the children were delicate’ When I speak of the children I mean to say that six of them were labouring under such disease, that it was impossible for them to recover ; that the recovery of the others was a question, but that they were not labouring under actual maladies which would neces- sarily prove fatal. 566. Then, they were not entitled to be considered in good health ?—Certainly not. 567. I wish to know whether the practice of cleansing the children, of which you complained was reported to the Board?—No. My impression is, that the Board, and perhaps I might say, the Commissioners, did not form the same opinion of the importance of these matters that I did, and, therefore they might have lain over till they had leisure to consider them. 568. Did you, upon any occasion, find any unwillingness in the Board to attend to your representation regarding the children, or any class of Paupers ?—I never found any unwil- lingness about them. 569. Do you recollect making a verbal communication to me ?—I do. 570. Do you also remember that I recommended you when there was any matter of importance, to report it to the Board ?—I remember the occasions upon which you spoke, and you said that the crowded state of the Nursery could not be helped or remedied immediately. 571. Was that my answer to you ?—That was the substance of it. 572. I distinctly state that to the best of my recollection, I never gave you such an answer. My question to you was, whether 1 did not tell you to report to the Board any circumstance of importance connected with the management of the Workhouse ?—I admit that you did, but not on the occasions to which I allude. 573. Nor do I attempt to recollect particular occasions, but I ask you were not my recommendations, or if I may say so, directions, to report to the Board, any matter of consequence in your Book ?—And 1 have explained my reasons why I did not report to the Board. 574. Mr. Hall.—Do you consider it possible to separate the children from each other in this Workhouse ? Do you consider it possible to do so in any Institution like this ? I think there ought to be a possibility. 575. Do you mean a possibility of isolating any particular child from the rest ?—Yes. Perhaps Mr. Barlow will recollect a suggestion made, and abandoned at the time, because I saw there were evident inconveniencies in realising them, but I made the suggestion thinking it the best that could be done, under the circumstances, namely, to raise the sheds at the lower part of the house, at the other side, and divide them into 3 rooms. 576. Mr. Barlow.—I recollect a suggestion of my own that we should raise those build- ings?—I stated so to you, but there was a good deal of hurry at the Board at the time, and you might forget it. 577. I wish to know whether you were ever told by any member of the Board, or by myself, as Chairman of it, that we had too much business, and were too hurried to attend to the recommendations of the Medical Officers, or is it your own impression only ?—It is my own impression only. 578. You never were told that there was so much business to be done, that what you Suggested should be left undone ?—My impression was founded upon the circumstance that many of our suggestions were not carried into effect till long after we made them. 579. Have you seen the Matron brought in here and told that your directions were to be attended to?—I have occasionally. 580. Do you recollect a particular occasion when the Matron was brought in here to consult with you whether any better arrangements about the children could be made ?—That occurred months after. 581. It was not upon the occasion of a report?—It was tipon the occasion of a report; it was in reference to a suggestion that we had made months before. 582. I cannot admit upon the part of the Board that there was ever anything of the kind neglected, but I remember perfectly well calling the Matron and requesting her to consult with you in reference to the children ?—Our reports show, Mr. Barlow, that our previous suggestions had not been carried into effect. 583. Mr. Phelan.—Do you consider that Measles frequently leaves its dregs in the con- stitution of a child, so that the child dies ultimately ?—Certainly. 584. Did you ever object to the Board as to the Form of your Medical Books, with a view to having other Books procured which would be better adapted to the purposes for which you required them ?—I never did, because I considered it would be useless to do so : they were prescribed by Law, or what was tantamount to Law. 585. Mr. Barlow.—Do you recollect that we immediately ordered you other Books which we thought necessary, without any reference to the Commissioners?—I am quite aware of that, but the Books thus ordered were simply those Books which were absolutely necessary for the management of our Hospital Department. When the Board appointed me Physician to the Workhouse, they did not desire me to keep notes of any case that occurred. 586. Mr. Hall When you speak of Books as not being adapted to your purpose, do you allude to the three Books which the Commissioners prescribed for the Medical Officers to keep?—Those Books are probably well adapted for the purpose for which they were intended. We had no object in registering any particular cases, except for our own advan-