The administration of medical relief to the poor, under the Poor Law Amendment Act, and other legislative provisions for the public health / considered in the reports of the Poor-Law Committee of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association. To which are appended certain clauses suggested for insertion in the contemplated Bill for the further amendment of the Poor-Laws.

  • Provincial Medical and Surgical Association.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The administration of medical relief to the poor, under the Poor Law Amendment Act, and other legislative provisions for the public health / considered in the reports of the Poor-Law Committee of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association. To which are appended certain clauses suggested for insertion in the contemplated Bill for the further amendment of the Poor-Laws. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    made an effort to retain him, by still further diminishing his district, with- out reducing his salary, and by permitting him to dismiss an assistant whom they had previously required him to keep. Their well-meant assistance, however, came too late, for he was obliged to leave the Union in Novem- ber, 1838. The mortality in the Lincoln workhouse during his two years of office, compared with that of the following year, 1839, in which the poor were restored to some of their former medical attendants, is rather remarkable ; et it may be accidental. The subjoined table is compiled from the Re- iorts drawn up for the auditor: — Patients. Deaths. 1837 253 34 1838 218 31 471 65 13.8 per cent. 1839 259 22.... 8.5 per cent. As already intimated, the guardians during 1838 apportioned four more of the extreme parishes to two of the resident practitioners, so that there were then five employed, whose collective salaries amounted to £270, the sum first offered to the resident medical men. On Mr. Sheriff’s de- parture, however, finding that the resident practitioners were generally disposed to undertake the duties, they re-divided the union into seven, and afterwards into eight medical districts ; one of which was subdivided by the contractors, so that nine medical officers are now employed. But, unwilling to lose the opportunity, which so praiseworthy an action afforded, of deriving some pecuniary advantage, and having effectually subdued the opposition of the medical men, they reduced the salaries from £270 to £240 ; perhaps on the ground that, as the duties would be more efficiently performed, a less amount of pay ought to be awarded.* At present the total amount of salaries is £260 per annum. The statement of facts relative to this union cannot be more appro- priately concluded, than by quoting Mr. Gulson’s own evidence :—“ I think that, in this instance, no board of guardians coidd be shewn to be more anxious to do the best that coidd be done for the poor. § 15. From a personal knowledge of the facts, your committee arc able to give also a full report of the early medical arrangements, and consequent events in the three following unions :— 1095. * Vide p. 46, Appendix to First Provincial Poor Law Report—Brackley Union.