The history of the General Hospital, Belfast, and the other medical institutions of the town : with chronological notes and biographical reminiscenses connected with its rise and progress / [Andrew G. Malcolm].

  • Andrew George Malcolm
Date:
1851
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history of the General Hospital, Belfast, and the other medical institutions of the town : with chronological notes and biographical reminiscenses connected with its rise and progress / [Andrew G. Malcolm]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    159/208 (page 135)
    which all classes, but particularly the poor, were invited, for the purpose of disseminating information in connection with the health of the town, suited to the apprehended visitation, and pointing out the most salutary means for speedy adoption under the circumstances referred to. On the 9th October, in imitation of a system pursued in 1832, and then found to realize much good, both in facilitating the application of necessary pre- I ventive measures, and in familiarizing the laublic with the utility of sanitary operations, from 8 to 13 persons were appointed to each district as Health Visitors. About 33 acted; and, through their recommendations, most of the house-cleansing operations were accomplished. A large number of copies of directions, as to the best established preventive treatment, were circulated amongst the poor. In this way the Committee were enabled materially to im]3rove the condition of the town, and, at the same time, to thoroughly instruct the inhabitants on the nature of the coming epidemic, a considerable period before the occurrence of a single case. In addition to the Cholera, the Committee devoted their attention to various other matters, respecting the public health of the town, which, had they been persevered in, might have resulted in very important improvements ; but with the sub- sidence of the epidemic so did the public interest abate; and the committee were necessitated to close their labours early in the past year. We trust it may be long, but unfortunately we cannot build upon the hope, ere a time shall arrive, when it may be a subject of deep regret to the town, that they did not hold out sufficient encouragement to the Committee to persevere in their useful labours. An application was at this time received by the Committee, from Samuel Browne, Esq., Surgeon to the Ophthalmic Dispensary, requesting permission to treat severe cases of Ophthalmia (such as require confinement and pecu- liar care) in the wards of the Hospital. With the apfu'oval of the Medical Staff, the solicitation was granted. As reference has thus been made to a Medical Charity not hitherto noticed, we shall request the reader’s attention to some of the particulars connected with it. An attempt was made to originate an Eye Dispensary, so far back as the year 181G, but evidently without success, as we can find no record of it ever having been established. The next notice we meet with of Ophthalmic public piactice is on the formation of the Chapel-lane (or as it was then