The history and statutes of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

  • Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Date:
1778
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history and statutes of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    . . ’• • f ; The faving and reftoring to health members of fociety, whofe labours are indifpenfible in a hate, may welt be ranked among the more important fervices done to the community. Hence, in all well regulated focieties, public funds and private charities, have been devoted to the ufe of the poor. The raoft benevolent intentions to relieve our fellow-creatures, mull be, in a great meafure, fruftrated, while the poor and difeafed either live difperfed, or have no fixed place of abode. Under thofe circumfiances, charity is bellowed with uncertainty, and frequently on the moll improper objeds. In this hate of things, it is out of the power, even of the moll opulent, to provide lodging, medical advice, attendance, drugs, food, and other necelfaries, to thofe whofe calamitous circumfiances require them. All thefe inconve- . . : i jJ ■ * » • - i ‘ niencies may be happily removed, by colleding the patients into one or more public places, properly difpofed and appointed, where they may be comfortably fubfifled, and their health taken care of, at a fmall charge ; and where, by divine alfillance, their bodily dh- feafes may become the means of improving their minds, and cor¬ roding their morals* and of making them experimentally to feel and know, that it is good for them to have been afflided. The city of Edinburgh hath not been inattentive to its poor ; having, for many years pall, allotted a confiderable revenue for their fupportv and appointed a phyfician and furgeon to attend them, as their cafes might, require. But the poor, whofe right to public fupport was founded on their being free of the city, or refi- denters in it for a certain period of time, being confidered as pof- felfing a preferable claim, ingrolfed the whole, or much the greater part of this charity ; and penfioners, living about the fuburbs of the town,
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