My pleasure And yes there were many more complications in childbirth in those early years, which would account for the deaths of newborns. I think that perhaps even though they had work, many of them might not have been able to afford a doctor to attend each birth. I imagine the ratio between doctors and births would have been 1 doctor for every 20 births, particularly in areas like Balmain where there was a large catholic population. Remember in those days, most doctors were men. Most women preferred to have a women attend them during childbirth, but if anything went wrong they were in trouble without a doctor.. They had more midwives than we have today, but I think for the most part, they had no medical qualifications, just the experience of delivering babies. I lost my father in March, and amongst his possessions (which I have kept) is a birth control booklet, probably from St Augustines..... Mary On 26 September 2012 13:15, Patrick Callaghan <balcolyn@activ8.net.au>wrote: > Hi Mary > Many thanks for your reply, I guess it was just how things were, many of > those who died very young survived only a few hours > and twins seemed especially vulnerable. I have four children and four > grandchildren, all healthy and well, I wonder what the > situation might have been if I had lived in those times > all the best > Patrick > > -----Original Message----- > From: aus-nsw-sydney-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:aus-nsw-sydney-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Mary Cunningham > Sent: Wednesday, 26 September 2012 11:16 AM > To: aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com > Subject: Re: [ANS] Help Needed on infant death statistics > > Hi Patrick > > I think it was just "of those times" > I have had ancestors in Balmain since the early 1800's. Still have one > brother living there now. > My grandmother told me a story of how the nuns once came to their house in > Adolphus Street, and put ten pounds on the mantlepiece....to feed the > children, of which there were seven! > My grandfathers family were Roman Catholic Irish.. > It was during the great depression of the 1930's, but apart from the > depression years they always had work. > Childhood diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough, etc; took more > children in those days, even in the wealthier suburbs of Sydney. > > Mary > > On 26 September 2012 10:09, Patrick Callaghan <balcolyn@activ8.net.au > >wrote: > > > Greetings listers > > > > I am sending this email to several mailing lists as I know that that > > there is a great deal of knowledge 'out there' > > > > > > > > Having reached my target of finding 1000 burials to, at least > > partially, recreate the lost burial register of the long disappeared > > Balmain > > > > Catholic cemetery I am now getting ready to publish my work (in > > November) > > > > > > > > Here is where I need some wisdom from listers and I understand that > > the figures I am using may not represent the perfect statistical base > > > > BUT > > > > amongst the 1000 burials I have found there are 258 children under the > > age of 5, that's 25% of the known burials and that seems very high to > > me > > > > so my question is, dear reader, what do you think??? > > > > The Balmain area was largely working class in the years the cemetery > > was open (1868 - 1902) is this figure representative of other working > > class > > > > areas of that time > > > > > > > > The figure of 258 is made up of 174 unfants, under the age of one and > > 84 under the age of 5, so one conclusion seems to be that if you made > > it > > > > to your first birthday your chance of a long life increased markedly > ????? > > > > > > I look forward to your thoughts > > > > Patrick Callaghan > > > > Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post > > any reply...... Thank you! > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post any > reply...... Thank you! > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > Please remember to snip most of the earlier message before you post any > reply...... Thank you! > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >