Human Physiology. 23 



that of Mr. Simon, medical officer of the Privy Council, who, 

 in his evidence before the select committee on the Chemists 

 and Druggists Bill, mentioned some startling facts as to the 

 destruction of infant life by opium. He said : 



" There are some country districts of England, where child- 

 killing by opium is monstrous. Every one knows that in some 

 of the manufacturing districts where mothers are employed 

 and children are neglected, the mortality of infants is twice or 

 thrice what one would call the normal rate of dying, and that 

 a considerable share of this undue mortality is caused by 

 dosing with preparations of opium. But it is not equally well 

 known that in certain country districts the same amount of 

 mortality of infants is to be observed; and when the particu- 

 lars of this are inquired into, it appears that the conditions are 

 very similar to those which operate in the manufacturing 

 districts, and that even a greater proportion of the mortality is 

 caused by the domestic administration of opium. I should 

 not like you to suppose that I think much of it is intentional. 

 I do not think that, but there is a carelessness as to the result 

 that is hideous. On this subject the committee would find 

 the facts given in my last annual report, and especially with 

 reference to the marsh districts of England. The women 

 work in gangs, and travel about the country, leading often a 

 very reckless and rollicking life, and leaving their children a 

 great deal to chance as they travel about. The children fare 

 very badly, as the children do in manufacturing towns. To be 

 kept quiet they are drugged with opium. The peasantry have 

 a tradition that opium is useful in their ague, and have got so 

 familiar with it that many of the adults are opium-eaters. 

 Having this local knowledge of opium, they give it to children 

 very largely, the children dying monstrously. The mothers 

 (namely, the agricultural gang-women) appear often to be very 

 reckless whether the children live or die. The children are an 

 encumbrance to them." 



