Susannah Lattin (January 7, 1848 – August 27, 1868) was an American woman who died of a postpartum infection at an illegal maternity clinic at 6 Amity Place in New York City, operated by

Henry Dyer Grindle Henry Dyer Grindle (November 19, 1826 – September 14, 1902) was a Manhattan physician and abortion provider in the 1870s who worked under the name H.D. Grindle. Birth He was born on November 19, 1826, in Maine. He married Mary Babbage in Mai ...

. Her death led to an investigation which resulted in regulation of maternity clinics and adoptions in New York City in 1868.

Early life

Lattin was born in Farmingdale on

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

. Around 1867, Lattin moved from Farmingdale to

Williamsburg Williamsburg may refer to: Places *Colonial Williamsburg, a living-history museum and private foundation in Virginia *Williamsburg, Brooklyn, neighborhood in New York City *Williamsburg, former name of Kernville (former town), California *Williams ...

in Brooklyn, where she lived with her cousin Andrew Wood.

Unplanned pregnancy

Lattin became pregnant by George C. Houghton; he was a clerk at Whitehouse's boot and shoe store on Fulton Street, Brooklyn. He paid $50 to Dr. J.C. Harrison to perform an abortion, but Lattin did not go through with it. She was still hoping that Houghton would marry her. Houghton then quit his job and moved to Philadelphia, to escape the situation. Lattin next went to her cousin, George H. Powell who worked as a butcher at the Washington Market to help her. He pretended to be her husband and arranged for her, as "Mrs. Smith", to see Dr. Henry D. Grindle, who ran an unauthorized "lying-in" hospital that allowed pregnant woman to have their children and have them illegally adopted. The doctor wanted her to pay $150, but she could only pay $100 and he accepted it.

Death and aftermath

Lattin checked into the lying-in hospital on August 5, 1868, then a few weeks later she delivered a healthy baby boy who was adopted anonymously without any record kept of the adoptive parents. Around August 18, 1868, she developed a postpartum infection. The medical student who attended to her realized Susannah was in serious condition and was not likely to survive, and he persuaded her to tell him her real name so he could notify her family. The message got to her parents after she had died. Coroner

Aaron B. Rollins Aaron B. Rollins (1818 – December 4, 1878) was a member of the New York State Assembly for the 9th district of Manhattan from 1851 to 1853. He was the deputy Sheriff of New York County, New York, from 1853 to 1859, and the Coroner of New York ...

investigated the death.

From: 6 Amity Place, Manhattan. To: Mr. Henry Lattin. Dear Sir: You daughter is at No. 6 Amity Place, very sick with typhoid fever, and I do not expect her to live twenty-four hours. She inquires about her mother frequently, and wants her to come immediately. Yours truly, E. Daun. P.S. take the Fulton Street cars at the ferry and they will take you to the house. E. Daun.

Susannah Lattin's death led to an investigation that resulted in regulating maternity clinics and adoptions in New York City in 1868.

Inquest verdict

Susannah Lattin came to death by
metroperitonitis Peritonitis is inflammation of the localized or generalized peritoneum, the lining of the inner wall of the abdomen and cover of the abdominal organs. Symptoms may include severe pain, swelling of the abdomen, fever, or weight loss. One part or ...
, the result of child-birth at D.H. Grindle's establishment at No. 6 Amity Place on August 27, 1868. We further censure Dr. Grindle for the irregular method of operating his business, relative to taking in women to confine, and also the method of adopting children so delivered. We further recommend the Legislature to so enact a law whereby all such establishments shall be under the supervision of the
Board of Health Local boards or local boards of health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate environmenta ...
, or any other recognized authority. We further condemn the practice of any regular medical college recognizing students connected with any such establishments.

Early life

Unplanned pregnancy

Death and aftermath

Inquest verdict

References

External links

Further reading