Lunn’s court, White’s yard.†
Lutkin’s corner, Mill street.†
Lying-in Hospital, for married women, in Brownlow street, Long Acre. Amidst the variety of charities that are the distinction and glory of this age and nation, perhaps none has been proposed to the public more extensive in its benefits than the hospitals in this city for lying-in women. It is natural to observe, that the arguments for establishing any hospital, are at least as strong when applied to these. Poverty is an object of pity; sickness and poverty united seem to comprehend all the natural evils of life, and how great is the calamity of those poor who are frequently or periodically afflicted with sickness; and though their labour is at other times a bare support, are annually disqualified for providing for themselves and families! During the latter part of their pregnancy, and the time of their lying-in, the needy family is wholly taken up in attendance upon them; and the joys natural at such a season, are suppressed by the wants which surround them. Or if they be destitute of this attendance, how great is the hazard that the helpless mother, or the child, or perhaps both, may by their deaths become melancholy instances of the evils of real poverty!
By the plan of this hospital, every convenience these distressed objects can require, is amply provided; commodious apartments and beds, good nursing, plain suitable diet, proper medicines, the charitable assistance of gentlemen of skill and experience in midwifery, and, on due occasions, the spiritual comfort of a sober and pious divine.
Between the 7th of December 1749, when women were first admitted, and the 12th of April 1751, 299 patients received orders of admission; and the number of patients greatly increasing, four small houses contiguous to the back of the hospital were added to it, and fitted up at a great expence.
Women are received into this hospital in the last month of their pregnancy, on producing a letter of recommendation from a Governor, and making an affidavit of their marriage and their husband’s settlement, which affidavit is prepared for them gratis by the Secretary; and where the husband cohabits with the wife, he is to join in the affidavit, unless prevented by sickness, or some other reasonable impediment. It is also required, that the women produce a testimonial of their honesty and poverty, under the hands of two substantial housekeepers in the neighbourhood where they lodge or reside, in case the weekly board shall, on examination, doubt of their being in such circumstances as to be proper objects of the charity.
Friday being the day appointed for the admission of women, they are to be at the hospital by ten o’clock in the forenoon, no letters of recommendation being received after that hour, it being necessary, for the dispatch of the business of the hospital, that their affidavits should be prepared and sworn to, before the weekly board sits, who enter upon business at eleven.
During their continuance in the house, necessaries are provided for them and their children, at the sole charge of the hospital; no money or other gratuity is to be taken of them by the nurses, or by any of the officers or servants of the house, on any pretence whatsoever.
That this excellent charity may be rendered more extensively useful to the public, and that not only this great metropolis, but the remotest parts of the kingdom may be supplied with well-instructed and experienced midwives, four female pupils at a time are permitted to attend the hospital, in order to their being instructed in midwifery. These pupils must be widows or married women, not less than twenty-five years of age, of a sober character, and such as are approved of by the committee. These are allowed to stay and board six months in the hospital, during which they dine at the steward’s and matron’s table. The gentlemen of the faculty who attend the hospital, at stated times, give them lectures in midwifery, and instruct them how to act in all natural and difficult births. And when they are thoroughly instructed, and sufficiently experienced, they receive from these gentlemen, on their leaving the hospital, certificates of their qualification. The expences of their instruction and board in the hospital have been settled at a general court; the particulars of which any persons desirous of becoming pupils may be informed of, by applying to the matron of the hospital. But no pupils of the male sex are permitted to attend this hospital.
The officers of this hospital, are, a perpetual President, four Vice-Presidents, and a Treasurer, who are chosen annually.