Sanatory inquiry - towns in Scotland : report on the sanatory condition and general economy of the town of Tranent, and the neighbouring district in Haddingtonshire / made to the Poor Law Commissioners by S. Scott Alison.
- Alison, Somerville Scott, 1813-1877.
- Date:
- 1840
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Sanatory inquiry - towns in Scotland : report on the sanatory condition and general economy of the town of Tranent, and the neighbouring district in Haddingtonshire / made to the Poor Law Commissioners by S. Scott Alison. 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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![might be treated in two different ways. They might be allowed a proper and reasonable sum for their maintenance in their own houses ; but this sum would require to be very considerably greater than is given at pre- sent. This plan would suit respectable people, who would not disabuse their liberty or their means, and it would be more agreeable to Ihem in genera]. But for the dissipated and worthless a workhouse should be provided, and likewise for those who have no friends to take care of them. For persons belonging to the fifth class, some provision is certainly due: they have claims for rehef sanctioned by the Bible. They have become disabled in employments essential to the existence and comfort pf their countrymen; and surely those persons who suffer bodily injury in providina; essential comforts for their countrymen, are not less deserv- ing of assistance than the soldier who gets wounded in fighting the enemies of his country. A great number of people in and around Tra- nent are unfit to follow their usual occupation on account of bodily injuries by accidents, and of disease caused by their occupation. These persons might be put into a workhouse, and made to work at some light and easy occupation. Although unable to follow their usual Occupation, many are able for some more gentle and easy employment ;• and in this way they might defray all, or nearly all, the expense of their maintenance. Where workhouses cannot be estabhshed, and where there is a great reluctance to enter them, perhaps a moderate allowance of money might be made, in order to assist the pauper's efforts for sub- sistence. In and around Tranent there are many insane persons. There are about twenty idiots in the parish of Tranent. The relatives of many of these persons are very unable to provide for their subsistence. I do not think assistance is given by the parish towards their maintenance. Mad persons, who are dangerous to themselves and others, should be provided for, and put under restraint. Two persons are thus provided for by the parish of Tranent. But I know of one person who is not thus provided for: she is a young woman ; she lives with her mother, an old widow. She is very furious ; is confined in a dark closet: I believe she IS completely naked; has no bed, save a little straw, and has no bed- clothes. She roars like a wild beast; I have heard her; she tears every- thing that comes in her way. She tore with her teeth a strait-waist- ■Coat in which she was once restrained. She lives like a hog : and her /^''u^'L^'^^-^uJ ^^j,^ ^-^t that the neighboufs may not ^e horrified by the sight. The parish authorities have failed to send this person to an asylum, although solicited by the mother, a poor heritors, I believe, allow 3* 6d per week for the maintenance of this person. *vrJ,in/^'V -^^ education in the parish of Tranent proves that the Means whicii present system is very inadequate for the purposes of education, viz i^^ chirpn^ nTh^' ^'^^'I to discharge tLse duties which a^; the -^I^, Ws dutm K ^^^^ ^^^^^1 situation, to discharge nis duties to his neighbour and himself. 5tnH 'consideration of the situation of the population of Tranent oartThrf^t P^^''' similarly situated, has led to the conviction on my Kwlete .^^^^^^^^^ of the intellect and the acquisition of worldly Knowledge are of themselves madequate to achieve the ends of educa- S'nf'l*^'* ^'/t^'^ ^^j^'^*^ to be useful to any.very cons derable extent, there must be con oined some tuition of the heart some im pressing on tlie juvenile mind a deep and ever actuatiSliSn To serve God. Examples of the failure of mere literary eSiorsuch 1^ onf'nMh of Tranent, are not wanting.^ The nevertheless appeared ^ ^iV^,^^ D](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21472063_0035.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
