Ch. iii. in Russia. 307 



rely upon the information which I collected on the 

 subject; but from the most careful inquiries which 

 I could make of the attendants at the house in 

 Petersburg, I understood that 100 a month was 

 the common average. In the preceding winter, 

 which was the winter of 1788, it had not been 

 uncommon to bury 18 a day. The average num- 

 ber received in the day is about 10; and though 

 they are all sent into the country to be nursed 

 three days after they have been in the house, yet, 

 as many of them are brought in a dying state, the 

 mortality must necessarily be great. The number 

 said to be received appears, indeed, almost incre- 

 dible ; but from what I saw myself, I should be 

 inclined to believe, that both this and the mor- 

 tality before mentioned might not be far from the 

 truth. I was at the house about noon, and four 

 children had been just received, one of which was 

 evidently dying, and another did not seem as if it 

 would long survive. 



A part of the house is destined to the purpose 

 of a lying-in hospital, where every woman that 

 comes is received, and no questions are asked. 

 The children thus born are brought up by nurses 

 in the house, and are not sent into the country 

 like the others. A mother, if she choose it, may 

 perform the office of nurse to her own child in the 

 house, but is not permitted to take it away with 

 her. A child brought to the house may at any 

 time be reclaimed by its parents, if they can 

 prove themselves able to support it ; and all the 

 children are marked and numbered on being re- 



x2 



