The first report of the Society for the Treatment and Attendance of Poor Persons Afflicted with Diseases and Distortions of the Spine, Chest, Hips, &c.

  • Verral Charitable Society (London, England)
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The first report of the Society for the Treatment and Attendance of Poor Persons Afflicted with Diseases and Distortions of the Spine, Chest, Hips, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    a great deal. There are few of the patients of the Society, whose chests were not in some measure deformed ; and in many of them, they were contracted to such an extent, as to occasion shortness of breath, distressing cough, and palpitation of the heart; and there is no case which has not speedily given way to the use of the position, and to such treatment, in the way of medicine, exercises, &c., which have been recommended to them. The Founders of the Society, whose pleasing office it has been to assist in framing this report, venture most earnestly to entreat those who have already contributed to its funds, not only to continue their own Subscriptions, but to spread the know- ledge of its existence and of its usefulness, wherever their voices may be heard, or their influence extend. They implore them to explain the benevolent objects of the Institution ; to describe the forlorn and miserable beings who look to it alone for relief; to point out the inadequacy of its present means for the necessary attend- ance of all the cases which have already solicited its aid; and to proclaim the urgent call there is for a “ local habitation,” which, while the Society’s original pur- pose of attending the poor at their own homes was still steadily pursued, would be the means of granting more effectual assistance, to some of the worst and most important cases. This appeal to the feelings of the public, is made with the greater confidence, inasmuch, as they who have the honour of advancing it, are conscious of having evinced their own great earnestness in the cause, their thorough and most solemn conviction of the immense importance of the Institution, and their deep commiseration for the suffering and unfriended objects of its care. Nothing but considerations of so high a character, could have induced them to undertake the arduous and protracted struggle in which they have been for two years engaged. Nothing else could have induced them, at the great sacrifice of their leisure, and of their private convenience, to persevere in spreading a knowledge of the very sim- ple, but very efficacious plan of treatment, upon which the operations of the Society are founded; in soliciting the patronage of those exalted persons who could only, through such representations, become acquainted either with that peculiar plan of treatment, or with the urgent cry for assistance,—a cry until now unheard and unattended to,—of those who had found no friendly hand extended for then- relief; and in seeking, aud almost begging for those subscriptions, which have en- abled the Society, in its earliest infancy, to render itself so essentially and exten- sively useful,—they feel bound also to say, that nothing but the same high con- siderations could have induced the Surgeon of the institution to undertake, gratuitously, as he has hitherto done, the arduous duties of the situation; to un- dergo its fatigues, to bear its privations, to devote his talents and his time, often perhaps to the prejudice of his private practice, to the attendance of so many patients, scattered as they are, not only round every part of this great metropolis, but also over the counties of Surry, Sussex, Kent, Essex, Bedfordshire, Bucking- hamshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Somersetshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, &c., in several of which his personal attendance has not unfrequently been demanded. But for the spontaneous proffer of such gratuitous attendance, during the early days of its existence, the very attempt to establish the Society could never have been made by its Foundress. It will be seen by the subjoined List that, even in the infant stale of the Society, One hundred and twenty-five patients have already been entered upon its books, and have derived, or are deriving, relief and improvement from the assist- ance thus charitably and benevolently afforded them; and this consideration, together with the reflection that there are hundreds more who, but for this Insti- tution, would assuredly sink into helpless and hopeless deformity, would become the prey of painful disease, and the victims of premature death,—will, it is hoped, “ plead like angels trumpet tongued,’’ to the hearts of those whom Providence has* blessed with the means of contributing to the comforts of the poor, and alleviating the sufferings of the sick; and induce them, BY SUBSCRIPTIONS OR DO- NATIONS, to extend the usefulness of a SOCIETY, at present the only one in existence, which offers a prospect of relief and a chance of recovery, to some of the most distressful maladies by which the human race has been afflicted. This first report of the proceedings of our Charity, cannot, it is thought, be better concluded than by an extract, from Count Von der llecke’s interesting description of the benevolent Institution which he was the means of establishing at Dusseltlml