[5 9 
the whole of that in fome of-them, in #wo weeks, or in about 
the fiftieth part of the fame fpace of time. From which, and 
fome other confiderations of lefs weight, I thought the uncom- 
mon mortality of children in the Dublin Lying-in Hofpital fatis- 
fa€torily proved. 
I rHen ventured to hazard fome conjectures concerning the 
caufes of a mortality, by which fo many ufeful lives were loft to 
the ftate. 
rft, Foul air, or an impure atmofphere, 
ad, Negleét of keeping the children clean and dry, 
“3d, rregularity in the manner of living of their mothers, mote 
efpecially in the abufe of “Jprrituous liquors,—were the caufes which 
appeared to me the moft probable, either feparately or perhaps 
combined ; but I fufpeéted the firft, viz. an impure or phlogifti- 
cated atmofphere, for contributing moft powerfully to the general 
calamity. For, ; 
First. I remarked to him’ that public regifters proved the 
mortality of children to increafe proportionably with the fize of 
towns; and that the larger towns are, the more numerous are 
the caufes which have a tendency to taint their atmofphere, and 
thereby render it lefs fit for the purpofes of falutary refpiration. 
Seconpty, That in private pradtice phyficians in the city of 
Dublin did hot find the mortality of infants in any degree fo con- 
) fiderable 
