An account of the rise, progress, and present state, of the Society for the Discharge and Relief of Persons Imprisoned for Small Debts throughout England and Wales / By James Neild.

  • Neild, James, 1744-1814.
Date:
1802
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the rise, progress, and present state, of the Society for the Discharge and Relief of Persons Imprisoned for Small Debts throughout England and Wales / By James Neild. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    332/384 (page 316)
    the present day (March 16th), they amount to thirty four, notwithstanding the number of Convidts on- board have been lately very considerably diminifhed, and upwards of twenty of their worst invalids have been removed to the Laurel, in Portsmouth Har- bour. The present complement of La Fortunee is about 300, near fifty of whom are invalids, or cripples on deck, besides eleven confined to their beds, and as many more in the hospital-ward. The complaint that has been most prevalent, and most fatal, begins with a low fever, and ends with a diarrhoea or dysentery. We think it our duty to report further on this part of the subject, that it appears to us, that great neglect is to be ascribed in the medical department ; though it cannot be imputed to Mr. Hill, the late Surgeon, who wras bound by contract to oil tend at the Hulks three times a week only, be the state of the convicts w'hat it might. Note. Mr. Hill’s Contract appears to have been 70/. per ann. for attendance (at four miles distance), and medicine. By the interposition cf Mr. Graham, we under- stand that Mr. Hill was superseded some weeks ago ; and another gentleman appointed, with whose assi- duity and attention we have every reason to be fully satisfied. He brought before us various complaints against the Contractor, particularly stating to ns, that for five days past he had been unable to pro- cure