The foundations of medical history / by Sir D'Arcy Power.

  • D'Arcy Power
Date:
1931
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The foundations of medical history / by Sir D'Arcy Power. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    found that the order authorising its enactment was duly signed as it should have been by Offley, for Sir Thomas Offley was Lord Mayor of London in 1556. The name of the town clerk who verified the extract and signed at the foot of the order, however, appeared as John Goodfellow, but William Blackwell was town clerk of London from 1541 to 1570 and John Good- fellow was town clerk from 1690 to 1700. It was clear, therefore, that the book could only have been printed between these latter years and that there could have been no first edition. My suspicions as to the authenticity were thus confirmed and the next step was to ascertain why a manuscript which had remained so long unprinted should at last appear in type. I ascertained that in 1681 the court of aldermen made a determined attempt to regain their ancient jurisdiction over the four royal hospitals, which had practically lapsed from disuse. On February 14, 1681, “a reference was made to the presidents of the four hospitals, and four aldermen were nominated to inquire into and examine the ancient method of managing the hospitals and appointing governors.” The result of the enquiry was to show conclusively that the court of aldermen—that is to say, the governing body of the City of London—had jurisdiction over the hospitals but that it had been found difficult to enforce it. The dispute dragged on for several years until on October 28, 1690, “The Clerk—that is to say,
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