There are, for example, special seaside resorts for rickety and tubercular children. [_e.g._ in England, for tubercular children, Margate.] _Proposed Reforms._--It is the duty of the poor-law boards to devote great attention to the health, not merely of those children for whose care they are directly responsible, but also for poor children in general. The law should provide a right of interference on the part of the local authority in the case of children whose health is endangered by prolonged confinement to the house--for example, where there is grave danger from exposure to infection--and this in cases in which it is not possible to speak of “neglect” in the narrower sense of the term. But if powers are given, in such cases, to remove a child for institutional care, it should only be till such a time as is requisite for the domestic conditions to be transformed, so that the child may return home without danger to its health. In respect of the hospitals under the direct control of the local authorities, it is necessary that the latter should have the right of removal of children needing hospital treatment whose parents do not send them to hospital on their own initiative. This last idea is already partially realised, inasmuch as certain modern foundling hospitals receive for treatment sick children who have not entered the hospital as foundlings. _Need for Enlightenment._--It is really astounding how little the laity know about the elementary principles of the hygiene of child life, and more especially of infant life. In respect of the management of infants, the most absurd practices prevail, some of which are largely responsible for the extent of infant mortality. It is therefore of enormous importance that the population in general, and especially the lower classes, should be properly instructed in these matters. But even medical practitioners lack sufficient instruction in respect of the hygiene and therapy of childhood, and even more in respect of the hygiene and therapy of infancy. This is due to the fact that there is no proper teaching of these specialties at most universities. Quite recently, however, there has been some improvement in these respects. _The Tendency of Evolution._--The importance of such institutions as those we have been discussing will become ever greater. Indeed, the great majority of sick persons will ultimately receive institutional care. The functions we have been considering, at present administered by the community at large and by the local authority, will eventually be taken over by the State. CHAPTER VI THE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL