But many, even of adult patients, can neither be relieved by infirmaries nor dispensaries. For this reason schemes of more extended charity have been attempted, amounting to a regular gratuitous attendance of the sick poor at their own houses. This would have appeared at one time a plan of impracticable magnitude ; and it must he confess ed, that the enterprize of those who undertake to execute it is sometimes in danger of being defeated by the inade quacy of the means which can be provided, especially as many apply, besides those who are unable to provide for themselves. It is scarcely possible in any place to find well-educated men, who are supported by medical prac tice, in sufficient number for so much labour ; and the characters of those who are connected with public charities will not allow them to admit into their body any who are in this respect of a decidedly inferior rank. By efforts of this nature, however, much good has undoubtedly been done. It still remains a desideratum in medical charities to provide for this object, consistently with tire Interests of the medical attendants, and with the limitation of their duties to such a scale of moderation as is compatible with cheerful perseverance. After the funds are provided for furnishing medicines for such institutions, it would be de sirable to provide salaries for the medical attendants, not indeed adequate to their trouble, but serving as an acknow ledgment for their labour, and a partial preservative against ultimate disgust in the execution of their duty. This object would be well worthy of the separate consider ation of those prosperous individuals who have it in con templation to devote part of their riches to charitable pur poses, either in the form of donations or bequests. It is most like to be duly appreciated by medical men who have acquired a fortune in the exercise of their profession, which they are disposed to dedicate to public uses.
Sonic of the miseries accompanying the sickness for which the poor are admitted into infirmaries, do not come within the limits of these charities, and the relief of them might be too burdensome, both for the attention and the funds which they would require. To these, in some in stances, the attention of the humane has been directed, and the task of affording relief has been made a separate ob ject. An association was formed in London in 1791, under the designation of the Samaritan Society, which attached itself to the London Hospital, The singular utility of this laudable institution will be best shown, by describing the views of its founders, as exhibited in their first address to the public.
" Observations prove, that there is distress in hospitals calling on humanity for consideration, that cannot be brought within the provisions of those valuable institu tions.
I. Poor servants who have been obliged to quit their places and go into hospitals, when dismissed cured, but yet in a weak state, have frequently no friend to receive them, or place wherein to lay their heads securely, till they are reinstated in service.
II. Many young females, who, through distress, have pawned or sold their clothing, when raised from,. the bed
of sickness, might be saved from ruin by proper assist ance.
Many within the walls of an hospital suffer the great est anguish, on account of their families at home starving for want of the wages of their labour.
IV. Patients from remote parts of this kingdom, when discharged from hospitals in a low, lame, or incurable con dition, frequently know not whither to go, or what course. to take, for avoiding worse evils than have befallen them. And foreigners, under similar circumstances, experience at least as great hardships.
V. Many a languishing fellow creature, it is reasonably supposed, might be saved by the opportune benefit of fresh air for only a few days.
VI. The efficacy of the waters of Bath, where there is an hospital for paupers, and of the sea, would probably pre serve the lives of many, who are unable to defray the little expencc of a journey.
VII. In cases of mutilation, various services might be rendered the sufferers towards gaining a livelihood.
VIII. Patients are frequently without change of linen, Viii. Patients are frequently without change of linen, so essential to cleanliness, and consequently both to their own continued health, and the safety of those with whom they may live.
IX. Instances occur of blindness in persons remote from their parishes and friends, in which the distress might be greatly alleviated by proper assistance at their departure.
X. Cases of rupture frequently occur, from sudden causes, requiring trusses." After these observations, they give their opinion, that such objects will be best fulfilled, by a supplementary in stitution of this kind attached to each hospital.
This society was now regularly organized, and proved extremely beneficial, as appeared by their report in 1795, in which it was observed, that they had extended their bene fits to a great number of instances of distress, compre hending nearly all the cases enumerated in their first ad dress, and found that much evil might be prevented, and much good done, at little expence, by help thus seasona bly supplied. They were then enabled from experience to recommend, in the strongest terms, the formation of other societies on a similar plan. One other has at least been formed, which is attached to St George's Hospital.
Under the denomination of infirmaries, we shall also notice institutions which embrace only one important de partment of the same general object. The most conspi cuous place is due to those intended for the treatment of contagious fevers, and which have been called Fever Hos pitals, or Ilouses of Recovery. These accomplish ends of peculiarly extensive' utility at comparatively little ex pence. The objects whom they patronize are generally in the most deplorable state, and are relieved as speedily as the nature of their cases will admit. The attendance required, which would exhaust the strength and the means of support of their domestic friends, is given gra tuitously in the best possible manner ; and the spreading of infection through the rest of the family, and its calami tous diffusion through a populous neighbourhood, are pre vented.