PDF (Whole thesis) - UTas ePrints - University of Tasmania

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pub lic opini9n or more energy, persistence and courage, although his
enemies probably gave it the less kindly name of blatant egotism.
It was in this vein that Hall rep lied on December 1, 1857, to
Bedford 's letter of August 27 concerning the Orphan Schools, which had
been published in the October number of the Australian Medical Journal .
Bedford, restrained and courteous , though surprised and obviously hurt
by Hall's criticisms , contended that the statistics given by Hall
referred to only twQ years and partly a third, instead of covering an
extended period like thirteen years .
The high mortality in the years
1854-6, Bedford claimed, was due to two temporary causes, the admission
of very young children , which was not customary and was now discontinue d,
and two epidemics .
Moreover , he denied that any widespread
dissatisfaction with the mortality at the Orphan Schools existed, and
declared himself in favour of open discussions on the matter.
I am one of the last persons to wish that information as to
pub lic institutions should be withheld. I consider the
well doing and safety of the inmates depends upon the open
manner in which their operations are conducted; but to form
a correct opinion the public must have the whole facts , not
partial facts and misinformed opinions. I submit the
enclosed tables (thirteen years) to assist anyone who may
wish to know the facts and, if necessary, to ameliorate the
sad conditions Mr Hall says exists.
Contrary to Hall's statements , Bedford insisted that diet and ventilation
were not the cause of so many deaths, b u t the easy spread of disease
amongst a large numb er of children confined closely together. 14
To this , Hall replied scornfully and indignantly that Bedford' s
figures for thirteen years only proved his point the more , that the
.children died at the rate of 31 per 1000 .
Why even on an average of 15 years in London, - at all
ages , from the moment of birth to extreme old age - the
rate has not been quite 25 per 1000 - though cholera,
smallpox, and other diseases unknown here , had prevailed
extensively. Why, heavy as was the mortality at all
ages , within the city of Hobart Town , comparatively to
London, in 1856 it only amounted to 28 1 / 2 per 1000 .
What was far worse, the rate of mortality of Orphan School children ,
compared with country children in Tasmania was, on an average of thirteen
successive years , S to 7 1 / 2 times greater.
Accusing Bedford of
''disgraceful parsimony" in doling out milk in tab l espoonfuls to
"perishing children" , Hall called for an immediate enquiry by an
14
A.M.J., October 1857, pp . 306-308 .