At the center of the scene is the practice of wet nursing. The hospital took responsibility for hiring and modestly compensating wet nurses, primarily from the nearby countryside, to breastfeed and care for the infants’ health and hygiene. As the children grew, their education was entrusted to the nuns until they reached adulthood. Boys were trained in a trade, while girls, whenever possible, were provided with a dowry and arranged marriages. If this was not feasible, they remained within the hospital complex, taking on roles as servants, nurses, or nuns.
