By the late eighteenth century, the Madrid Foundling House received around three to four babies a day, approximately a thousand babies a year. Mortality rates were enormous: more than 90 per cent of children died during their first month in the care of the House. In 1799, a female society, the Junta de Damas de Honor y Mérito (Committee of Ladies of Honour and Merit) replaced the previous male committee and took full control of the House’s management. This chapter shows how to use the paperwork developed by the Junta as a primary source for looking to their scientific practices in order to reduce the mortality rates.... [Leer más...]