A code of rules was drawn up, which, with occasional revisions, to suit changing circumstances, remain substantially the same to the present day. A donation of 10 guineas constituted a life Governor, a legacy of the like amount gave the trustee paying it the same privilege. An annual subscription of one guinea made the subscriber a Governor during the year. Church or chapel collections of two guineas secured governorship for the year to the minister, and an additional Governor for each two guineas so collected. The officials were to be a President, Vice-Presidents, and Treasurer, elected annually at a special meeting of the Governors. Other regulations, as to patients and their attendance, numbered between 40 and 50.
The institution was to be open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. till noon, when the medical officers would prescribe for patients, attending with a governor's nomination. Those unable to attend should be visited at their homes. As a small practical beginning the wooden framework of a shop was bought at Wainfleet, for the small sum of 5/5; and drugs were ordered from the firm of Wallis & Stockton, of York; and a further supply obtained from Messrs. Skeen & Peale, of London.
The first building, which was used from 1789 till 1867, was No. 2 on the south side of St. Mary's Churchyard, being rented for the sum of five guineas a year, until it was purchased in Feb., 1810, for the institution, jointly by Dr. Harrison and the Rev. John Fretwell,[1] for £111 2s. 8d., the conveyance being effected by Mr. Clitherow at a charge of £13 15s. 8d. Improvements were made in this building, at a cost of £13 5s., in 1812, and of £27 15s. 7d. in 1821.
Of the first physicians, Dr. Laycock resigned office in his first year, on Sept. 29th, 1790; but Dr. Harrison continued his duties for many years, only retiring on Oct. 11th, 1821, shortly before his death. Although that gentleman carried on a private asylum, for patients mentally affected, at his own residence in West Street,[2] he took a great interest in the Dispensary, and was indefatigable in his attendances, often at his own inconvenience. Moreover his pecuniary assistance was not small; as, besides sharing in the purchase of the premises in St. Mary's Churchyard, the accounts shew that in 1820 he paid £27, and in the following year £19 14s. 4d., for Dispensary expenses, which sums were afterwards repaid to him by the Governors; and (as will be shewn hereafter) he bequeathed at his death £100 to the funds. A vote of thanks was passed to him at the annual meeting of the Governors in September of 1821, for a further gift of £21, with the expression of their regret that his valuable services could no longer be given. Associated with Dr. Harrison, in dispensary work, was Dr Fawssett, appointed on the resignation of Dr. Laycock, who loyally co-operated with that gentleman for 33 years, and only survived him two years, dying on Oct. 16th. 1823.
Since that time almost all the medical men of the town have, in their
- ↑ The Rev. John Fretwell was Rector of Winceby. and began his ministry in Horncastle, June 24th, 1782, and was Curate under the Vicars, Revs. James Fowler and Joseph Robinson. He would appear to have possessed a private income beyond his official stipend, he was probably, for some time, in sole charge of the cure, as we find him disposing of some of the "communion money," for the benefit of the Dispensary, as recorded in a subsequent page of this chapter. There is a tablet of black marble on the north wall of the chancel, in St. Mary's Church, in memory of Elizabeth, his first wife, who died Dec. 4th, 1784, and also of his infant son by his second wife), Matthew Harold, who died Sept. 19th, 1786.
- ↑ This was the house now occupied by Dr. H. A. Howes. 30, West Street; and the writer may add, that, within his own memory, while the house was occupied by a later tenant, Mr. Jason Alison, a poor lunatic, probably a survival of Dr. Harrison's asylum, was kept chained to the kitchen fireplace. Such treatment would now be impossible, but parallel cases are on record in the neighbourhood.
