Sanatory inquiry - towns in Scotland : report on the sanatory condition of the Old Town of Edinburgh / made to the Poor Law Commissioners by William Chambers.
- William Chambers
- Date:
- 1840
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Sanatory inquiry - towns in Scotland : report on the sanatory condition of the Old Town of Edinburgh / made to the Poor Law Commissioners by William Chambers. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![Ansivers by Alexander Miller, Esq. Surgeon, Edinburgh, to Queries 'proposed by ^ W. Chavibers. How long have you been employed in the medical profession in Edinbureh? —With the exception of the year 1829, which I spent in Paris, I have been en- eao-ed in medical practice, in Edinburgh, for the last sixteen years ; first, in the capacity of apprentice to the late Mr. George Bell, and secondly, as general prac- titioner on my own account. Mr. Bell was in the habit of havmg his apprentices constantly engaged in attending upon the poor, and I am certain that the amount Qf relief thus afforded would equal what any of the dispensaries now can accom- plish. . . , r.., 1 What opportunities have you had of examining the houses of the poorer classes in the town ?—I have had ample opportunities of observing the condition of the loor in Edinburgh, and of witnessing the state of their houses. I acted as assistant for two years, to a lecturer on midwifery here, and in that capacity superintended a very extensive practice among poor women confined at (heir own houses. 1 have officiated as a medical officer of the Royal Dispensary here for nine years. i The patients who apply to such an institution comprise every grade of the poor. But perhaps the most instructive opportunity yet afforded me of seeing disease and destitution combined, was during the prevalence of the malignant cholera here, ,vhen I acted as one of the district surgeons. What have you observed to be the general condition of the dwellings of the (joorer classes'?—The dwellings of the poor are generally very filthy in their in- erior, and in many cases seem never to be subjected to any kind of cleaning vhatever. Those of the lowest grade often consist of only one small apartment, dways ill ventilated, both from the nature of its construction, and from the densely (iie DIP I. ih? 1* le- '':J!1 f^!t 'ills :)eopled and confined locality in which it is situated. Many of them besides, are lamp and partly underground. But perhaps the most remarkable feature of uch dwellings, is the miserable scantiness of furniture, or rather in many cases, he total want of any kind of it. A few of the lowest poor have a bedstead, but y far the larger portion have none, these make up a kind of bed on the floor with lit raw, on which a whole family are huddled together, some naked and the others •lie. .n the same clothes they have worn during the day. In almost no instance is there a supply of water, nor is there any provision for carrying off filth ; the effluvia accumulated from these causes are most offensive, sspecially when disease is prevailing in such dwellings. It may be mentioned, that some of the houses of the poor are furnished with a limall closet, which becomes a nuisance to the rest of the dwelling, in consequence Df being used as a depository for all sorts of filth. Is there much destitution within your knowledge ?—I am convinced that a Tearful amount of destitution prevails in Edinburgh, very many cases of which 113, private benevolence never ,reaches, and they are unrelieved by public charity, in .,],(BO far as the allowances thence derived are totally inadequate, .ijj, I As respects cases of midwifery in particular, is there much destitution ?—During 'jl,j|.he time 1 acted as assistant to the lecturer on midwifery, it was my duty to attend tijilpon the poorest classes, during their confinement in such places as Blackfriars ' .J, kVynn, Grass market, Wgst Port, and Causewayside. I have on numerous occa- .jjj tions been compelled to deliver the patient destitute of a bed, and with nothing 10 rest upon but a quantity of straw, often upon a damp floor, with an old carpet for a covering, and even where there was an apology for a bedstead, I have often teen a single tattered blanket to constitute the whole stock of bed clothes. In nany instances, I have found it impossible to procure clothes sufficient to cover ihe infant, and although the neighbours in general are very attentive, I have had m more than one occasion to perform the duties which should have devolved upon a female attendant. , Does fever prevail to a serious extent in Edinburgh at particular times ? and if 0 mention in what places?—Isolated cases of continued fever are never totally ■bsent from the dwellings of the poor. When epidemic, I have observed that it irevails with the greatest intensity, and is diffused most rapidly, where lar^e](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21472051_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
