On provident dispensaries as a means for promoting the public health / by James Christie.

  • Christie, James, 1829-1892.
Date:
[1880?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On provident dispensaries as a means for promoting the public health / by James Christie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    PhiUmpkieal SWietif of (Hoiyovf. sure brought to bear u|h>u the wnge cIusm-.s wliii h tends to force them into the vortex of |iauperiKm—svu, those obligutions under the Poor I^w to hupport, in whole or in part, |»arent« ami iieticenilants. ' > is often a burden which, though chtHirfuUy boroe, iit ui:v ■ too heavy to bear, and necessarily tends the ultimate puupc rization of the family. For all j)ractical purjxjses, therefore, the 408. \*:v week circle, with the discretionary iwwers mf • ' d of eX'' . and inclusion, may Ik' rtccept^nl as a roason- abi tation oi i .i .ava within which the Provident Dispensary Scheme may planteil aipl i i «agiii*Hl. Having tlius brieHy inu. , i the clivss contemphtted Ity the scheme, it may be advisable to consider whether tliis class rcAlly reqoireti any extraneous aid; and, if st), of what description, moaning, of course, extraneous aid in the matter of nie<Iica] attendance. I presume that the medical neoossities of eju'h section of society, high and low, rich and poor, are pretty much jdiko ; but such neoenities are not e<|ually realiced, ami, consequently, are not uniformly applie*! for and supplie<I. Among the opulent and wcll- tonio classes, who are in circuniRtances to avail thcniselvos of the •ervices of a regular family pliysician, every case of illness, and even 80-calle«l triflinj^ cas<'s of illness, aiv promptly atl(Mid(Hl to; and thoMe atfections incidental to infancy and childhood are generally treated on the tirst nM- anuice of symjjtonis of ill lu altli. Attention is alao given to i itary condition of the residence, to [)crsonal bjgSene, to the maintenance of the standard of health, to the prevention of disease : and, it may Ik* state*! generally, that the family physician ha.s the general oversight of the health of the houaehold, as well as the treatment of disease when it does appear. Amongst this class we have a lower death-rate, and a higher standard of general health than prevails among the population generally; and, in so far a.s we can judge from our vital statistics, there is in progress a decided improvement. Even amongst this class, personal and general hygiene does not meet with the amount of attention which it merits ; but increasing attention is l>eing )>aid to such subjects, and there is reason to expect a gradual and steady improve- ment in the standard of public health. The same system prevail.*! in the households of many within the circle specially under consideration, and the same prompt attention is paid to all cases of illness. The obligations of this section are honourably and cheerfully met, and apparently with no great difficulty; but there are many who do not and cannot do so, the