An inquiry into the moral, social, and intellectual condition of the industrious classes of Sheffield. Part I, The abuses and evils of charity, especially of medical charitable institutions / [by G.C. Holland].

  • Holland, G. C. (George Calvert), 1801-1865.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the moral, social, and intellectual condition of the industrious classes of Sheffield. Part I, The abuses and evils of charity, especially of medical charitable institutions / [by G.C. Holland]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    98/140 (page 94)
    children, and the husband was in the edge-tool business, and in regular work. These are not solitary instances ; many other pa- tients, though less gaudily attired, exhibit easy cir- cumstances. It is not at all unusual for families to be at the same time on the books of both Institu- tions, or when discharged from one to go immedi- ately to the other, and in this way, with few inter- missions, they receive medical aid for years. A few weeks ago, a well-dressed woman came to the Infirmary on our admission-day with a recommen- dation for her daughter. As her countenance was somewhat familiar, it led to inquiries, and we found that she had then two children under our care at the Dispensary: the condition of the family had been pre- viously ascertained to be good; the husband had full work in the first cutlery manufactory in the town, and the average of his wages was one pound ten shillings a-week. His employers, in answer to our personal inquiries, at once showed us the wages- book, and expressed surprise that his family should be recipients of medical charity; the recommen- dation they stated had not been given by them, which was the fact, for it had been procured from an individual before alluded to, who sends annually to this Institution about one-third of the patients.