A brief historical account of the origin, progress, and present state of St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark / By a student of medicine [i.e. B. Golding].
- Golding, Benjamin, 1793-1863.
- Date:
- 1816
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A brief historical account of the origin, progress, and present state of St. Thomas's Hospital, Southwark / By a student of medicine [i.e. B. Golding]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![and disposers of the goods of Almightie God to his poor and needy members. In the which office and calling, yf ye shall he found negligent and unfaithful], you shall not onelie declare your selves to be the most unthankfull and unworthie Servants of Almightie God, being put Ln trust to see to the reliefe and succor of his poor and needy flock ; But also ye shall shew your selves to be very nota¬ ble and great enemyes to that worke, which most highlie doth advaunce and beautifie the comon weale of this realme, and chiefly of this Citie of London. For by this most comendable and notable policie, Idelnes the enemie of all vertue is suppresed and banished ; The tender youth of the nedy and idle beggars vertuously brought up; The Number of sicke, sore and miserable people, refreshed, harbored and cured of their maladies; And the vile and sturdy strumpet compelled to labour and travaile in pro¬ fitable exercises. Requiring every of you, faithfully to travaile in this your Office and callinge ; that this worke may have his perfection, and that the nedy Number com¬ mitted to your charge be diligently and holsomleye pro¬ vided for. And for your care towards these poore and nedjre members of Christe, you shall be rewarded at his hand, and receive his blessinge in this world, and in the world to come the joyes everlasting.” This shows the high sense which the Governors formerly entertained of their own important trust, as their orders manifested their desire of impressing others with the like sentiments. The Governors of St. Thomas’s, in common with those of the other hospitals, were originally possessed of power to inflict punishments for the better regulation of the patients; and I find directions for erecting stocks and a whipping¬ post within the walls of the hospital (the former of which have not been removed many years), and likewise orders for patients to be whipped for misdemeanors. Such as had been relieved and cured at this hospital, if found begging afterwards in the streets, were sent to Bride¬ well ; and the foul patients, particularly lewd women.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b3189429x_0044.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
