unknown (1889) Conference of Poor Law Guardians and Others at Mrs. Muller's. Women's Penny Paper, 2 (60). pp. 90-91.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Gives excerpts or abstracts of five speeches at the conference, and records the respective responses. Eva McLaren gives the opening address and provides brief arguments against the compulsory detention of women in workhouse infirmary lock wards. Lucy Wilson criticises attempts to anchor compulsory detention, examination, and medication in law, pointing out that women's rights are infringed while men are encouraged "in vice." She further emphasises that workhouses are not penal institutions. Mrs. Haycraft argues in favour of admitting and detaining patients of either sex in lock wards until they are cured. She emphasises the current generation's responsibility towards as yet unborn children. A discussion about infection and/versus contagion, as well as aspects of morality follows. Mrs. Percy Bunting reads a paper on the "Substitution of Moral influence for Compulsion," arguing that detention potentially exacerbates the issue of an immoral lifestyle by providing cures for venereal diseases. Moral reform thus would be more effective. Another brief discussion is recounted. Fanny Albert reads a paper by Mrs. McIlquam that proposes a change in practise/legislation concerning the "Registration of illegitimate children and the detention of their mothers." The paper calls for compulsory registration of the father in order to support the mother and reassign both financial and moral responsibility to both parents, as opposed to the woman alone. A discussion of the topic, as well as of "Classification of Paupers in Workhouses" and "Use of Metropolitan Asylums for Medical Instruction" follows.
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