About six years after the death of the founder, a bronze statue of him by Scheymaker was erected in the open square in front of the hospital, costing five hundred guineas. On the pedestal are representations of the Good Samaritan, Christ healing the sick, and Mr. Guy's armorial bearings. In the chapel a marble statue of Mr. Guy, costing £1,000, was erected by Mr. Bacon in 1779. The founder is represented as holding out one hand to raise a poor invalid lying on the earth, and pointing with the other hand to a person carried on a litter into one of the hospital wards. On the pedestal is an inscription beginning with these words,—
UNDERNEATH ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF
THOMAS GUY,
CITIZEN OF LONDON, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, AND THE SOLE
FOUNDER OF THIS HOSPITAL IN HIS LIFETIME.
In 1788 the noble John Howard visited Guy's Hospital; and while he found some of the wards too low, being only nine feet and a half high, in the new wards he praised the iron bedsteads and hair beds as being clean and wholesome.
For over one hundred and seventy years Guy's Hospital has done its noble work. Departments have been added for special treatment of the eye, the ear, the teeth, the throat, etc., while thousands of mothers are cared for at their homes at the birth of their children.
In 1829, at his death, another governor of Guy's Hospital, Mr. William Hunt, left £180,000 to the hospital. He was buried in the vault under the chapel by the side of Thomas Guy. After some years, Hunt's House, a large central block, with north and south wings of brick with stone facings, was erected, the whole costing nearly £70,000. From time to time other needed buildings have been added, such as laboratories, museums, etc. There are now in the hospital over seven hundred beds. Only a few beds are reserved for those who can afford to pay; with this exception patients are admitted to all parts of the hospital free of charge. "The Royal Guide to London Charities," compiled by Herbert Fry, says, "No recommendation is needed for admission to this hospital. Sickness allied to poverty is an all-sufficient qualification." A fund has been established for relieving the families of deserving and poor patients while they are in the hospital. This is not only a blessing to the dependent ones, but prevents the anxiety and worry of the suffering inmates.
Guy's Hospital now receives into its wards yearly over 6,000 patients, and affords medical relief to about 70,000. The annual income of the hospital is about £40,000. Saving, industrious Thomas Guy wrought even better things for humanity than he could have hoped. It paid him to use a newspaper on his counter instead of a tablecloth for his meals, if every year thousands of poor men and women could be cared for in sickness without money, walk about his pleasant six acres during convalescence, and bless forever the name of Thomas Guy. What a contrast such a life to that of one who spends his wealth in fine houses, parties, expensive yachts, and self-indulgence!
In 1825 Guy's Medical School was opened in connection with the hospital, and has proved a great success. "It has become world-famed," write Messrs. Wilks and Bettany, "and has received pupils from all English-speaking lands, and not a few foreigners." Of Guy's Hospital Reports which began to be published in 1836, they say, "Nothing, perhaps, has done more to establish the reputation of Guy's Hospital abroad than these Reports. They may be found in the best libraries in Europe and in America, and have been well perused by many of the leading men on the Continent."
Those who wish to study medicine at Guy's have to pass a preliminary examination in arts, and take a five years' course. During four years "the time is equally divided between the study of the elements of medical science and clinical instruction in the practice of the profession." The last year is chiefly devoted to hospital practice. With this amount of study it is easily seen why Guy's Medical School takes high rank.
On March 26, 1890, a college built of red brick was formally opened by Mr. Gladstone. It cost £21,000, and is for the resident staff and students. A gymnasium was built also in 1890.
Guy's Hospital has been fortunate in the noted men who have been connected with it. One of its early surgeons, John Belchier, lies buried in the same vault with Thomas Guy. He fell in his office; and his servant, not being able to lift him, as he was a heavy man, offered to go for assistance. "No, John, I am dying," he said. "Fetch me a pillow; I may as well die here as anywhere else." It is related of him that, seeing the vanity of all earthly riches, he desired to be buried in the hospital, with iron nails in his coffin, which was to be filled with sawdust.