Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Public Health, Gender, Disease, Industry

    Laments the plight of silkworms that are 'kept shut in close, ill-aired cages' and work all day and night. They are 'continually dying off' from 'Consumption' and are commonly known as 'Needle-women'. Notes that needle-women work in atmospheres much more consumptive than 'the open air on a village green' and the author accordingly disputes the connection between consumption and cold weather.