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available for the separation suggested. About seven Boards of Guardians accepted the offer and resolved to try the plan. I believe that the union which most successfully and completely carried it out was that of Carrickmacross, in Ireland; and in 1863, after two years' trial, a little printed statement was issued, describing the nature of the help given, and the cost at which it had been obtained. The objection was, however, still frequently urged, that it was not legal, and contrary to the spirit of the Poor Law, that relief should thus be added to the rates; and this led to the suggestion in the year 1865 that a deputation of the Workhouse Visiting Society should wait upon the President of the Poor Law Board (Mr. Villiers) with a statement and petition as to the general condition of the sick in workhouse infirmaries. In order to arrange this, a meeting was held, by Mrs. Gladstone's kind consent, at her house in May, 1865. This was followed by a second, in the

same month. They were attended by twentyone members of Parliament and medical men, and were addressed by Dr. Sieveking and many others. It was felt that the opinions of so many experienced persons of weight and position would do more than anything else to forward the object of the society. The deputation attended upon Mr. Villiers on May 25, but no record can be found as to the reply of the President. No doubt he promised that the matter should have his careful attention, for by this time it was beginning to be felt that complaints could no longer be conveniently set aside and ignored.

I cannot refrain from quoting some extracts from this petition, which gave in so striking a manner an outline of all that was afterwards urged and carried. The petition was called, "Suggestions from the Members of the Workhouse Visiting Society on the Condition of the Sick in Workhouses."

"As the results of the committee on the Poor Laws will be brought before Parliament during the present session, we desire to submit to members the following points, which appear to us the most important, concerning the treatment of the poor in workhouses :

"These points arise out of the fact that workhouses are now, in a far greater degree than formerly, institutions for the reception of the sick poor, hospital accommodation not having increased in proportion to the needs of the population. We therefore beg to suggest the following inquiry—viz. if workhouses, as at present constituted, are fit places for the treatment of the sick, by reason of the following facts :

"1. The appointment of one medical man, who is expected to find medicines for his patients out of his salary.

"2. The custom of employing pauper nurses, with (in many cases) not even one paid or responsible superintendent for the sick.

"3. The general construction of workhouse wards, want of ventilation, suitable furniture and comforts, such as are supplied in hospitals; extras not being permitted to be given by friends, by order of the Poor Law Board.

"We beg, therefore, to remind members that, at the committee of inquiry, the following suggestions for improving the condition of the sick were made, and we earnestly desire now to see them carried out :

"I. The appointment of additional medical officers, either as inspectors (as in the case of the Lunacy Commissioners in workhouses), or as constant attendants, with pupils (as in hospitals).* "2. The employment of trained and competent nurses.

*

"3. The admission of voluntary benevolence to the sick wards, so that the rates should not entirely bear the cost of these improvements. "Should the evidence already given not be * See p. 78.

considered sufficient for the establishment of the above facts, we beg to suggest that a few members of the medical profession in London (whose knowledge of hospitals and the treatment of the poor in them would qualify them to give a competent opinion) should be appointed to visit and inspect the present condition of workhouse infirmaries, and report upon them.

“The projected removal of some workhouses from London seems to offer an opportunity for making improvements, and suggests the question, whether it would not be desirable to separate the wards for the sick and incurable from the workhouse, in order that they might be arranged on different principles, without encouragement to pauperism. In furtherance of

:

*The following is a portion of the verdict given by a jury on the death of a sick pauper in a London workhouse, 1861 "They think the said ward is deficient in lighting, ventilation, and proper accommodation for the patients, as well as its very bad position, and ought to be closed. They also think that the dietary of the sick poor in the said workhouse is deficient, and that patients ought not to go from 4 o'clock p.m.

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