| Abstract: | AbstractThe article relates to the adult treatment of working-class children in the 19th century. Although inquest reports have not survived for Staffordshire, constabulary reports on ‘sudden, violent or suspicious death’ for the county in 1851 and 1860 are used to examine the response of involved members of the community to the sudden deaths of children in the home. The local community is represented by neighbours, public opinion and juries; local professional bodies by coroners, police and medical attendants. Response can be seen to vary according to class and types of occurrence. |
