Report from the select committee on contagious fever in London.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Contagious Fever in London.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report from the select committee on contagious fever in London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Select Committee on Contagious Fever in London. Mercuriiy 29° die Aprilis 1818. The Honourable Henry Grey Bennet, in the Chair. Thomas Bateman, M. D. called in j and Examined. T Bateman A -'^•^ you physician to the London House of Recovery?—Yes. M. D. ' -^^^ Do you reside in the house ?—No, I do not; I reside in Bloomsbury- square. How long has that house been established ?—The first house was opened in the beginning of the year 1802 ; this House of Recovery, last September twelvemonth. Wliere was the first House of Recovery opened ?—In Gray's-Inn Lane. What number of patients would it hold ?—It had only sixteen beds. What was the motive for establishing that house ?—The extensive prevalence of fever for several years previous. Have you had an opportunity of ascertaining what were the principal causes, at that period, that increased epidemic diseases?—It was preceded by two years of great scarcity. That house was calculated only to hold sixteen beds, have you a return with you of the number of patients that were admitted in that year ?—The following is an account of the number of patients admitted from the year 1803 to April 1818. [// was read as follows;] INSTITUTION for the Cure and Prevention of Contagious Fever in the Metropolis. Years : N° of Patients admitted : Died : About one in 1803 . ■ - - - 164 - - - - 13 - - - - 12 i 1804 - - - - 185 - - - - 17 - - ' - 11 1805 - - - - 80 - - . . 7 . . - - - 12 i8o6 - . - - - 66 - - - - 6 - ■ ■ - - 11 1807 - - - - 95 - - - - 14 - . ■ - - 7 1808 - . . . . 64 - - - - 5 - ■ . . . 13 1809 - ■ - - - 72 - - - - 11 - - - - 61 1810 - ■ - - - 30 - - - - 8 - . ■ - - 3i 1811 . - - - 53 - - - - 8 - . ■ - - 7 1812 - - - - 43 - - - - 6 - . ■ - - 7 1813 . . . . . 62 - - - - 11 - ■ - - - 5i 1814 . . - - - 86 - - - - 13 . . . - - 6i 1815 ■ ... 59 . . . - 7 - ■ - - - 8f . . - 6 1816 - . - - - 85 - - - - 14 .. . 1817 . - - - 126 - - - - 10 . ■ - - - 12\ 1818 - - - - 797 - - - - 62 . . • - - 12 2,067 212 9 ^ Notwithstanding it appears by the return that the fever was considerably dimi- nished till within the last two years, you found it convenient to change your residence from Gray's-Inn to the spot which you now inhabit ?—Yes. Where
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