Infant Mortality in 19th Century Britain
A Working-Class Problem and a Public Health Solution
"An early death was often preferable to a life of poverty and crime"
- R. Sauer
Introduction
The rise in infant mortality in 19th century Britain has been the subject of many historical and medical reports, public health research efforts, media publications, and even works of fiction. Beginning a few decades after the turn of the century, the sudden increase in infant deaths in the British population remained a problem for many years to come. Citizens, government officials, politicians and medical experts -past and present- have had a variety of opinions on the nature of this public health problem, blame being placed on several factors ranging from poor living conditions, to the prominence of patriarchal ideals, to accusations that "one in every thirty women is a murdress." (Humble, 1866) However, despite the efforts of many to address the issue of a declining infant population, it would remain a national problem until well into the 20th century.
Infant Mortality in 19th Century Britain: A Working Class Poblem and a Public Health Solution is based upon primary sources and historical works that provide statistical, political and socioeconomic information that paints a broad picture of the national crisis that plagued this major world superpower from 1800-1915. Specifically, this study addresses the underlying social factors that contributed to infant deaths, such as the rise of capitalism and the subordination of women, as well as the exact causes of these deaths such as malnutrition, disease, "overlaying" and infanticide.
In the words of population expert Warren C. Robinson, "it would seem remarkable if the combined weight of economic, social and religious thought, teaching and practice did not have some effect on the behaviors of couples involved" in the death of their children during this period of increasing infant mortality in Britain. (Robinson, 2002) This research project analyzes these 19th century social components and their relation to this controversial public health problem.