It is said that in the late 1100 Pope Innocent III saw the “fishing” into the Tiber the bodies of three babies 
drowned. The pope, horrified by this event, he established a special department of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit was dedicated to abandoned children. The story of the discovery of the corpses of infants is perhaps imaginary, but unfortunately quite plausible. Indeed, it was a widespread practice among the prostitutes who were facing unexpected pregnancies, to get rid of newborn children by throwing them into the Tiber.
Prostitution was legal in Rome, and (perhaps the dawn of time) a profitable trade, not so outrageous and infinitely more widespread today. But of course it was not legal murder of unwanted children, in fact, was quite punishable by death!
But as “discard” their children without killing them and remaining anonymous?
The answer lies in one of the many small secret corners of Rome, Borgo Santo Spirito 4, a few steps from St. Peter’s Square, at the complex’s Hospital of the Holy Spirit mentioned above. Here we find the famous “wheel of complaints” (see photo). It ‘a kind of rotating barrel, cable, which was laid from the outside, anonymously, l’ “exposed”, the baby of unknown parents (hence the name “Edwards” and the like). At the sound of a bell was then spun the wheel, taking it from the inside, as in a sort of dumbwaiter, the baby, and entrusted to the care of the friars.
Often together with the infant was placed a coin broken, or something that would allow a possible reunion in the future, and should also be notified if the child had already been baptized or not.
It seems that in Italy there were many of these wheels (several hundred), certainly in use until the end of 1800, and also in Europe. This wheel in Rome is probably the oldest in Italy, made in the time of Innocent III. In Italy, their use has been abolished by law in 1923.
If we look good, some of these are still at the wheel around Italy (obviously not working anymore!): One in Florence (Hospital of the Innocents), one in Naples (Maggiore Basilica of the Annunciation), and Venice ( see photo at right), Pisa … The number of “complaints” was great, we talk to each “wheel” for the maintenance of several hundred children (in fact, many were starving), and in some periods even a few thousand!
The offspring abbondanati on this wheel, here in Rome, branding with a double cross on his left foot, thus in effect becoming “children of the family” Hospital of the Holy Spirit.
In the records they wrote “filius matris ignotae”, meaning “son of mother unknown” or shortening “filius m.ignotae”, which …. “son of a bitch!” And yes, now you can finally injure someone knowing that this phrase has these “noble” Latin roots!