AN ACCOUNT OF THE RISE, PROGRESS, and STATE OF THE
LONDON INFIRMARY,
Supported by CHARITABLE and VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTION, For the Relief of Sick and Diseased MANUFACTURERS, SEAMEN in MERCHANT SERVICE, And their WIVES and CHILDREN, From the first INSTITUTION on the 3d of
November,
1740, to the 12th of
May,
1742, inclusive.
Give that you may receive.
LONDON:
Printed in the Year of our Lord 1742.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE
LONDON
INFIRMARY.
O F all Circumstances that affect the Mind of Man with Compassion,
Reasons for the Institution.
no one seems to touch it so nearly as the seeing our Fellow-Creatures labouring with Diseases, and even perishing under them for want of proper and timely Assistance; for who that is not savage in Nature can pass regardless by those Numbers of miserable Objects, who daily present themselves to us, and whose various Diseases (were all other Motives silent) would be as so many Tongues, which at once speak their own Anguish and excite our Pity. As the Characteristick of the
English
is to be humane and beneficent, so nothing shews it more than Institutions of a publick Nature, such as Hospitals and Infirmaries, which are here better regulated and supplied with Necessaries, than in any other Country whatsoever. Some there are of Royal Endowment, and establish'd Revenue, and others of more modern Institution, erected and supported by the generous and voluntary Contributions of good and well-disposed Persons; but all these are by Experience known to be no ways adequate to the Numbers that seek Assistance from them; for as they can take in no more Patients than they have Beds, or give Medicine to more than what their Income will allow, many poor unhappy Creatures must be unavoidably lost. For 'tis a Truth well known, that tho' the City of
London
is more populous, and by its Trade and Navigation, the labouring Part thereof are more subject to Accidents and Diseases than the common People of
Paris;
yet it appears from the annual printed Accounts, that the
Hotel Dieu
alone contains more Patients at one time than all our Hospitals and Infirmaries together. If such Provision is made for the diseased Inhabitants of
Paris,
those of
London
more immediately require our Regard; particularly, the
British
Manufacturers and Seamen, as they are the chief Support of both our foreign and domestick Trade.
The Strength and Security of
Great Britain
depending chiefly on its Naval Power, the Wisdom of the Legislature has shewed a peculiar Concern for the Comfort and Happiness of such infirm and disabled Seamen as have been engaged in the Service of the Royal Navy: But for Seamen imployed only in the Service of the Merchant, and trading Part of the Kingdom, or the Wives and Families of such, in Distress by Sickness, no desirable Publick Provision has yet been made, or
particularly
instituted for their Relief. Nor are our numerous, poor, industrious Manufacturers, and Artificers, or their Wives and Children, by any particular Donations or Establishment, sufficiently provided for, under the Calamity of bodily Diseases and Casualties; tho' in such afflicting and melancholy Circumstances, they are incapable of providing for themselves or Families by their usual Labour and Industry.
These Considerations have induced many benevolent and publick spirited Noblemen, Gentlemen, Merchants and others to turn their Thoughts upon raising by publick Subscription, a LONDON-INFIRMARY, where
British
Sailors in the Merchants Service, their Wives and Children; and poor
British
Manufacturers, their Wives and Children; are daily admitted, and find Relief, in Distress by Sickness or Casualties: And this without any Difficulty or Expence of Admittance.
In order to answer the Ends proposed,
Situation.
a large House was taken in
Prescot-Street, Goodman's-Fields, which Situation was judged the most convenient, as being near the usual Abodes of Manufacturers and Seafaring Men in the Merchants Service, and at a considerable Distance from any Hospital.
The House is spacious and convenient,
Regulation of the House.
contains about forty Beds, properly and airily disposed, is furnished with Linnen, and all necessary Conveniencies. The
Matron,
a sober and discreet Woman, has the Charge of the House and Furniture; the Direction of the Nurses, and other Servants; and sees the Diet and Medicines administred according to Order. Under her, are Nurses, and Watchers, in proportion to the Number of Patients, of experienced Honesty and Tenderness, who are guided by written Orders to prevent Misconduct of any kind. Proper Diet for the Patients has been settled by the Gentlemen of the Faculty engaged in this Charity, and is fixed up in the Wards for the Satisfaction of the Patients and their Friends.
A
Physician and Surgeon
of Reputation are appointed, and attend daily,
Physicians and Surgeons.
from Eleven to One, without any Fee or Reward, and give their Advice to all such poor diseased Objects as think proper to come in those Hours, whether recommended or not; and other Physicians and Surgeons of Character attend and advise in all dangerous or extraordinary Cases.
The
Dispensary
is furnish'd with Drugs,
Dispensary.
which being first viewed and reported Good by a Committee for that Purpose, are bought at the best hand, and compounded at the
Infirmary,
where an Apothecary Resides, who constantly and solely attends the Business thereof.
No Officers or Servants are permitted upon Pain of Expulsion to take of any Tradesmen, Patients, or other Persons, any Fee, Reward, or Gratification of any kind, directly or indirectly, for any Service done, or to be done, on Account of this Infirmary.
And as the Governors of this Charity are desirous that the utmost Regard may be had to the Souls of the Patients,
Chaplain.
as well as their Bodies, a Clergyman of the Church of
England
has generously undertaken, without any Gratuity, to read Prayers, and perform the other Duties of his Function, at the
Infirmary.
Every Subscriber of five Guineas Yearly is a Governor of this Charity,
Qualification of a Governor.
and is intitled to send in as many Patients as there are Vacancies of Beds; but if they can't be received as In-Patients, they are relieved as Out-Patients. Every Gentleman giving a Benefaction of thirty Guineas at once, will be a Governor for Life.—All Subscriptions are during Pleasure, and smaller Sums, from well-disposed Persons, will be thankfully receiv'd and acknowledg'd.
Four Governors in Rotation every Month,
Business of Governors.
with any others that are pleased, attend Weekly, in order to receive, and dismiss Patients, supervise the Proceeding of the House, and do such Business as is usually done by Committees at other Hospitals, and report the same at the next Quarterly or General Meeting. There is a General Meeting of the Governors every Quarter, before whom a Report is made from the Weekly Committees, all By-Laws are then Confirm'd, all Vacancies fill'd up, and Accounts Audited. Also an Annual General Meeting of all Subscribers to Revise and Confirm the General Account of Proceedings, which will immediately after be publish'd for the Satisfaction of the Publick.
The Accounts are kept in a regular mercantile Manner, and the Names of the Patients, their Employment, Place of Abode, Disorder, the Issue of the Case, and the Name of the Subscriber who sent them, are inserted in several Columns in a Book for that Purpose; and are always ready for the Inspection of Subscribers, as also the Statutes and By-Laws for the particular Regulation of this
Infirmary.
All poor, sick, and lame,
Proper Objects.
who are recommended, or appear to the Committee to be truly necessitous, are received from the Hours of Eleven to One, who are supply'd with Advice, Medicine, Diet, Washing, Lodging, and every comfortable Assistance during their Cure. No Persons with incurable or infectious Distempers, or of known Ability to pay for their Cures, are admitted to partake of this Charity; but all Accidents are received at any Hour of the Day or Night.
This is the Plan of our Proceedings, and tho' this Work is but in its Infancy, yet such has been the extraordinary Encouragement given to it, by Numbers of Distinguish'd Humanity, that we have the Satisfaction to assure the Publick, that since the 3d of
November,
1740, it has pleased God to bless us with such Success, that upwards of 2000 distressed Objects have been Relieved at the
London Infirmary,
and from Labouring under the Oppression of some of the most malignant Diseases, and unhappy Accidents, have been re-instated in their Honest and Industrious Capacities of Working; whereby the Publick again enjoy the Benefit of their Labour; They, and their poor Families preserved from Perishing, and prevented from being a constant Incumbrance to the Community.
The Subscribers are desired to take Notice, that if any Patients shall not conform to the Rules of the House, or are guilty of any Misbehaviour, they will be discharged for such Irregularity, and never more relieved by this Charity.
There was a Proposal in the
Daily Advertiser
of the 17th of
May,
1738, for erecting an
Hospital, Infirmary, Surgery, Chappel,
and
School,
for relieving of poor, aged, and otherwise disabled Seamen in the Merchants Service, their Wives and Children, by a Subscription to be set on Foot amongst the Merchants, Owners, Masters, and Officers of Ships, and common Seamen, who were to pay certain Quarterly Sums according to their several Ranks, which, with the Contributions of worthy People, might have been sufficient for the desired End: As the
London Infirmary
already begun, is calculated to relieve all those who are disabled by Sickness or Accidents, and their Wives and Children, and answers that Proposal in Part, and may be the Foundation of the Whole, we hope those who had so charitably join'd in supporting that Subscription, will as readily interest themselves in this, which, if it pleases God to continue his Favour and prosper the Undertaking, may in time, by such Encouragement, be extended to the whole Benefit proposed by that Advertisement.
Such Persons therefore as are inclined to encourage and promote so laudable a Work, are desired to send their Subscriptions or Benefactions to Mr.
Thomas Minors,
Banker, in
Lombard-street,
who will give proper Receipts for the same: And any Person inclined by his last Will to bequeath a Legacy to this Charity, is desired to direct it to be paid to the Treasurer for the Time being, of the
London Infirmary
in
Goodman's Fields,
and that his Receipt shall be a good Discharge for the same.
The State of the Account from
Nov. 3, 1740,
to
May 12, 1742.
Money Received.
 
 
 
l.
s.
d.
To Cash received by Governors Subscriptions
 
 
425
5
0
To Do by Subscriptions
 
 
16
15
2
To Do by the Poor's Box
 
 
33
0
11
To Do by Benefactions,
viz.
Mrs.
Jane Holden,
Executrix to the late
Samuel Holden
Esq;
100
0
 
 
 
Miss
May
21
0
 
 
 
John Peck
Esq;
31
10
 
 
 
 
 
 
152
10
0
 
 
 
627
11
1
Money Expended.
 
l.
s.
d.
By Houshold Furniture
99
6
4
By Fireing
32
9
8
By Candles
6
19
4
By Repairs
67
9
9
By House-Rent and Taxes
33
16
4
By Salaries, Wages and Gratuities
65
18
2
By In-Patients
81
8
0
By the Dispensary
146
0
0
By Sope
3
9
6
By Stationary-Ware
14
6
11
By Petty Expences
17
13
4
By Turnery-Ware
1
3
5
 
570
0
9
Balance
57
10
4
 
627
11
1
An Account of Patients to the
12th
of
May, 1742.
Patients in the House
127
Out-Patients
2188
 
2315
Patients then in the House
29
Out-Patients on the Books
311
 
340
In-Patients discharged, cured
105
Dead
10
Discharged, incurable
12
 
127
Out-Patients, cured
815
Dead
93
Discharged, who did not return Thanks, but most of them known to be cured
876
Incurable
15
Discharged for Misbehaviour, or by Desire
49
 
1848
Total under Care of this Infirmary
2315
N. B.
Out of this Number, 29 were Casualties received into the House without Recommendation.
A LIST of
GOVERNORS
and
CONTRIBUTORS.
Charles Duke of Richmond, Lenox, and Aubigny, President.
Fotherley Baker, Esq; Vice-President.
Thomas Boehm, Esq; Treasurer.
Those marked thus are Governors.
A
* Mr. Shute Adams
* Mr. Benjamin Allen
* John Andrée, M.D.
* Mr. Claude Aubert
* The Rev. Mr. Audley
* Mr. J. Buxton, jun.
* Mr. Geo. Burrows
* Mr. Peter Biggot
* Mr. Alex. Bolton
* Mr. Robert Bray
Mr. Tho. Barnard
B
* Right Hon. Charles
Lord Baltimore
* Matt. Bateman, Esq;
* Sam. Berrington, Esq;
* Mr. Will. Birkin
C
* John Caswall, Esq;
* Rev. Mr. Calamy
* Mr. Tho. Cecil
* Rich. Chiswell, Esq;
* Samuel Cox, Esq;
* Mr. Josiah Cole
D
* James Deacon, Esq;
* Liebert Dorrin, Esq;
* Peter Ducane, Esq;
* Mr. John Dav. Duvall
E
Mr. Jonathan Eades
F
* Jos. Fawthrope, Esq;
* Jonath. Forward, Esq;
* Rev. Mr. James Foster
* Mr. Jam. Fordham, jun.
* Mr. James Freeman
G
* Mr. John Galton
* Mr. Benj. Gascoigne
* Mr. Henry Giffard
* Dr. Graham
H
* John Hawkins, Esq;
* Mr. Quarles Harris
* John Harrison, Esq;
* Mr. Robert Harrison
* Mr. John Harrison
* Mrs. Jane Holden
J
* John Jesse, Esq;
Mr. Thomas Jenny
* John Julian, Esq;
* Mr. John Jaques
K
Mrs. Kellaway
L
* Mr. John Lawford
* Lambert Ludlow, Esq;
M
Miss May
* Nicholas Magens, Esq;
* Adam Martyn, Esq;
* Mr. William Martin
* Mrs. Mendes de Costa
* Mr. Tho. Meadows
* Mr. Thomas Minors
Mr. Bowler Miller
* Ebenezer Mussell, Esq;
Mr. Edmund Munday
* Robert Myre, Esq;
* William Myre, Esq;
N
 
O
 
P
* Ambrose Page, Esq;
* Captain Page
* John Peck, Esq;
* Mr. George Potter
* Mr. Malachi Postlethwaite
Mr. Pearce
Q
 
R
* Mr. Stephen Riou
* John Russell, Esq;
* Captain Rutty
S
* Mr. Deputy R. Sclater
* Allen Smith, Esq;
* John Snee, sen. Esq;
* John Snee, jun. Esq;
* Mr. Robert Snee
Mr. And. Smith
* Richard Stacey, Esq;
The Rev. Mr. Sterling
Mr. Henry Swan
T
* Mr. James Taylor
* George Thornborrough, Esq;
* Mr. Peter Tolot
Mr. Geo. Jervase Tapp
W
* Hon. Maj. Gen. Williamson
* Mr. Anth. Wall
* Rev. Mr. Cha. Wesley
* Rev. Mr. John Wesley
* Mr. Thomas West
* Mr. John Waters
Dr. Andree, Physician to the Infirmary.
Mr. John Harrison, Surgeon to the Infirmary.
Rev. Mr. Audley, Chaplain to the Infirmary.
Mr. Godfrey Webb, Apothec. to the Infirmary.
Mr. Richard Neale, Secretary to the Infirmary.