Bowen's sago powder, to be distributed at the discretion of the faculty." Nov. 27th, 1790, cases of small pox having occurred in the town, it was resolved to inoculate all poor persons, free of charge; and thereafter many names are given of those who underwent the operation. With this we may compare the following entry as indicating the progress of medical science during 12 years. June 8th, 1802, an epidemic of small pox having occurred, and "inoculation becoming general, the Governors recommend vaccination." A statement was printed for circulation, that in 100,000 cases of vaccination, not one death had ensued; that it was now practised in all parts of the world, and favourably received, and that the National Institution of France had pronounced it to be the greatest discovery of the last century.[1]
Feb. 4th, 1792, has an entry, in no way bearing upon dispensary work, but interesting as a memento of an old mode of conveyance. The proprietors of the sedan chair asked permission for it to be kept at the Dispensary, for which they were willing to pay one guinea annually; and this was agreed to at the next meeting of the Governors. This chair was let out to convey ladies to evening parties in the town. It was borne by two men, and was in use within living memory, as late as "in the sixties."
April 21st, 1792. A gift of apparatus for the recovery of drowned persons, with a drag, was received from the Royal Humane Society of London. A water bed was afterwards purchased, which was let out for a small fee to poor patients, temporarily bed-ridden.
On Nov. 28th, 1809, at a special meeting of the Governors, the usefulness of the Dispensary was further extended by the appointment of a midwife, to attend upon poor women in labor, both in town and country, being paid from the funds of the charity, a fee of 3/6 for each case; and from the year 1810 to 1829, inclusive, Mrs. Elizabeth Southwell is mentioned, from time to time, as acting in that capacity. In the years 1829, 30 and 31, owing to the increase in the number of patients, special appeals were made to the landowners of the district for increased support.
In July, 1834, a resolution was passed that doctors attending patients at the Dispensary, might introduce pupils, to study cases under their treatment; and, in one case, a lady applied for permission to attend a course of instruction, in order that she might be enabled to assist her husband in making up medicines. From 1840 to 1894 drugs were supplied by Messrs. Herring & Co., of London, but since that they have been supplied by local chemists, who are subscribers.
In the autumn of 1840 there was an epidemic of scarlatina, and of the 237 patients on the books, 50 were suffering from that complaint. In consequence of the additional work thus caused, the salary of the dispenser was raised from £40 to £60 a year.
Again, with regard to a new source of income, among early notices we find the following: that on Sept. 29th, 1790, the first anniversary of the Dispensary's formation, a sermon was preached, on its behalf, at a service in the parish church, by the Rev. John Dymoke, Rector of Scrivelsby, and Chaplain to his grace the Duke of St. Albans. This became an annual observance, and has continued so ever since, the preachers being selected with special care, and often from a considerable distance. For instance, at the following anniversary,
- ↑ Dr. E. Jenner made his first experiment in 1796, announced his success in 1798. and the practice became general in 1799.
