Observations on the prevailing practice of supplying medical assistance to the poor, commonly called the farming of parishes : with suggestions for the establishment of parochial medicine chests; or, infirmaries in agricultural districts.

  • Smith, Henry Lilley, 1788-1859.
Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the prevailing practice of supplying medical assistance to the poor, commonly called the farming of parishes : with suggestions for the establishment of parochial medicine chests; or, infirmaries in agricultural districts. 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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    lislied, even in the metropolis, where gratuitous assistance might be administered to the poor, for the prevention of blindness and the re- storation of sight. It is only within these thirteen years, that in London an Infirmary has been established for the relief of the poor afflicted with the diseases of the Eye and Ear j since which time, men, eminent for their skill and professional attainments, have devoted their time and attention to this highly interesting class of diseases, which, with few exceptions, had been previously consigned to the hands of presuming empirics, utterly unacquainted with the principles and practice of medical science. The late lamented Mr. Saundeks, who established the Eye and Ear Infirmary in London, was the first to call the attention of the Public to the magnitude of the evil, and to astonish them by the success of his exertions, in restoring the use of organs, at once essential to manual occupation, and the sources of our most refined and intellectual enjoyments. This benevolent example has been fol- lowed with good eflFects to the community in many other parts of the 1790, another Asjlum and School of Instruction, was established at Liverpool, wliere they are taught to manufacture baskets, hampers, sheeting, lobby cloths, oakum, yarn, curtain lines, and worsted mats ; by tliese means the deplorable calamity of the loss of siglit, especially with the habitual idleness that attends a youth without instruction, and without the means or power of occupation, is avoided, and habits of industry substituted. The following beautiful and interesting Hymn, by the Rev. J. SMITH, is used at this School:— Hark ! sisters^ hark ! that bursting sigh ! It issues from some feeling heart Some pitying stranger sure is nigh:—. Tell us, oh ! tell us, who thou art. Sad is the lot the sightless know ; We feel, indeed, but ne'er complain; Here gentle toils relieve our woe— Hark ! hark! that piteous sigh again. If breath'd for us those heaving sighs, May heaven, kind stranger, pity thee; If starting tears suffuse thine eyes, Those tears, alas ! we cannot see. But ev'ry sigh, and ev'ry tear, And ev'ry boon thy hand has given, All in full lustre shall appear. Recorded in the Book of Heaven.