(Book of Oaths.)

Certificate of the College of Physicians concerning the Midwives of London.

May it please your Lordships,

Upon consideration taken of this petition hereunto annexed, presented unto the President and College of Physicians by the Midwives, We, the College of Physicians, conceiving the said complaint to be grounded upon just grievance, and to conduce to a general good, in the timely prevention of so growing an inconvenience, have particularly informed ourselves concerning the said business, and do certify that the like project was formerly attempted by another, which is now intended by the doctour, and therefore was referred by K. James, of blessed memory, to the Lords of the Council, and by their Lordships to the College of Physicians, to certify their opinion thereof; who upon mature deliberation made report to their Lordships of the unfitness of the said proposition, there being no such custom ever used either here or in any other kingdom, Wherefore the same was rejected and died. And whereas we understand that the said Doctour doth ground his complaint upon the insufficiency of Midwives, whom he would undertake to teach, though licensed by your Lordship’s officers, whom we do believe to be as careful in admitting of Midwives as they are in other kingdoms; only we are informed that divers do practise without licence, and some are deputies to others, through whom we probably conceive some abuses to grow, because their abilities and honesty of lives and conversation are not testified upon oath as others are who are licenced. But for adding sufficiently to them by the Doctour’s instruction, he is not otherwise able to instruct them than any other the meanest Fellow of our College, unless he understand it by the use of iron instruments, which Physicians and Chirurgeons may practice if they please; and some do and have done with as good success and dexterity as himself, and therefore there is no necessity of a sole dependance upon him. And it being true that is reported by the Midwives, the Doctour doth often refuse to come to the poor, they being not able to pay him according to his demands; and for the rich he denies them his help until he hath first bargained for great rewards; which besides that they are in themselves dishonest, covetous, and unconscionable courses, they are also contrary to the laws and statutes of our College, to which by oath he is bound. We therefore for this and other reasons we can alledge, conceive his suit to be unreasonable and inconvenient. And so do humbly leave the same to your Lordships’ grave judgments, unto whom his Majesty referred the consideration thereof.

(Goodall’s Proceedings of the College against Empiricks, p. 465.)

59 Geo. 3. c. 41.
An Act to establish Regulations for preventing Contagious Diseases in Ireland. 14th June 1819.

Whereas it has become highly expedient to provide for and secure constant attention to the health and comforts of the inhabitants of Ireland, and for the prevention of contagious disease, more especially in the cities and great towns thereof; and that for that purpose officers of health should be annually appointed in all cities and large towns, and that such officers should also be appointed in such towns, parishes, and villages in the country, as shall think it proper or necessary to adopt such a measure; be it therefore enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That within one calendar month next after the passing of this Act, and within one calendar month after the twenty-fifth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty, and in every subsequent year, in every city and town in Ireland, which shall contain one thousand inhabitants, or upwards; and in every city and large town where the Lord Lieutenant, or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland, shall think fit to direct that this Act shall be carried into effect, the inhabitant householders of each and every parish in such city or town, assembled in vestry, shall and they are hereby required to elect and appoint any number of persons not less than two, and not more than five, to be officers of health for such parish, for the year ending on the twenty-fifth day of March next after such election, and until new officers of health shall be in like manner appointed for such parish for the year ensuing.

II. And be it further enacted, That such officers of health, so to be elected and appointed, shall act in the execution of this Act without any salary, fee, or reward whatsoever; and that the expenses to be incurred by such officers in the execution of their Duties under this Act, not exceeding such sums as shall be specified and determined on, and limited and directed at the vestry to be assembled for the choice of such officers, or at any subsequent vestry to be called by the said officers, shall be raised and levied on the inhabitants of such parish, in such manner and form as other parochial assessments are raised and levied, and shall by the said officers of health be applied to the purposes of this Act; and the expenditure thereof shall be accounted for by the said officers in such manner as other parochial assessments are accounted for, and either at such times as other assessments are accounted for according to law, or at such other times and periods of the year, and as often from time to time as shall be directed at the vestry to be assembled for the appointment of such officers, or at any other vestry to be called by two inhabitants of such parish; and that copies of all such accounts shall once in every year, before the twenty-fifth day of April in each year, be transmitted by such officers of health to such public officer, or office or place in Dublin, as shall be from time to time directed by the Lord Lieutenant, or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland for the time being, or his or their Chief Secretary.

III. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the inhabitant householders of any parish, town, or place whatever, in vestry assembled, in any part of Ireland, to appoint such officers of health for such parish, in case they shall think fit and expedient so to do; and to raise such sum or sums of money, to be levied and accounted as directed by this Act, in like manner as by this Act is required to be done in cities and large towns as aforesaid.