Middlesex Hospital, for the reception of the sick and the lame, and for lying-in married women, in Marybon Fields near Oxford road. This is a neat, plain, and not inelegant brick building: it has the decent appearance and all the accommodations one would wish in a house devoted to charity, without that ostentatious magnificence which too often in a great measure defeats the humane and noble end of such pious and charitable institutions, where those sums are squandered away in useless decorations, that ought to be employed in administering health to the sick, and giving feet to the lame.
Nature and religion patronize every instance of distress, but most powerfully befriend that deepest of all distresses, sickness in poverty. Sickness itself will excite compassion, though alleviated by every comfort and advantage of wealth. How much stronger a sympathy must then arise at the sight or idea of sickness imbittered by poverty! or considered in another view, of poverty disabled by sickness! Most men are inclined, but very few, in comparison, have the power to relieve it. Public contributions, therefore, seemed the most likely to effect what the private bounty of individuals could not. This gave rise, in the present charitable age, to infirmaries, and in particular to this, which has the merit and the honour of being the first hospital in this kingdom for lying-in women; and of setting an example which has been so happily followed.
The charitable designs of this hospital were carried on for several years in two convenient houses adjoining to each other, in Windmill street, Tottenham court road, where the first institution in August 1745, was intended only for the relief of the indigent sick and lame: but in July 1747, the Governors willing to render it more worthy of the notice of the public, extended their plan to the relief of the pregnant wives of the industrious poor: when the great increase of patients, occasioned by the reputation of this twofold charity, soon obliged the Governors to think of enlarging their edifice, as well as their plan; and the kind benevolence of the public by donations, legacies, &c. enabled them in 1755, to erect a much larger and more convenient building in Marybon Fields, wherein the apartments for the reception of the lying-in women are in a separate part of the building, remote from the sick and lame; and that ladies may visit the lying-in patients, without being incommoded by the sick and lame, different stair-cases lead to each, the lying-in wards having no communication with the sick and lame.
The qualification of a Governor of this charity is an annual subscription of three guineas; which also intitles the subscriber to recommend, and have in the house at one time, either one sick or lame patient, or one lying-in woman, and to recommend out-patients, A subscription of five guineas per annum intitles the subscriber to recommend one sick or lame in-patient, out-patients, and one lying-in woman. A subscription of thirty guineas at one payment, constitutes the subscriber a Governor for life, with the last mentioned privileges. Contributions of lesser sums than three guineas per annum are thankfully received, and intitle the contributors to recommend one sick or lame in-patient, and one out-patient at the same time.
A committee of the Governors (appointed quarterly) meet at the hospital every Tuesday, at ten of the clock, to receive and discharge patients, and to transact the other necessary business of the house; where every Governor, though not of the committee, has a right to be present, and his attendance is received as a favour. A report of their proceedings is made to the general court held every quarter, when the resolutions of this committee are approved or rejected.
The patients are attended without fee or reward by three eminent Physicians, a Man-midwife, three Surgeons, and a reverend Divine.
The Physicians visit the patients every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and on intermediate days, when particular cases require it. The Surgeons attend every day.
Patients are admitted on a letter of recommendation from a Governor or Contributor, who may recommend in-patients, and have out-patients on the books, according to the regulation abovementioned: and when in-patients are recommended, and there is not room in the house to receive them, they are put on the list to be admitted on the first vacancy, and in the mean time are prescribed for as out-patients.
No security is required for burials.
All accidents are admitted without recommendation.