THIS Following Treatise A short Account of the Proceedings of the College of Physicians c. having been considered and examined by the Committee of the said College they thought fit to recommend it to the President and Censors to be published IMPRIMATUR Datum ex Aedibus Collegii nostri in Comitiis Censoriis Junii 11. 1697. Tho. Millington Praeses Tho. Burwell Rich. Torless W. Dawes Tho. Gill Censors A Short Account OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE College of Physicians London In relation to the SICK POOR Of the said CITY and SUBURBS thereof With the Reasons which have induced the College to make Medicines for them at the Intrinsick Value LONDON Printed in the Year 1697. A Short Account OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE College of Physicians London In relation to the Sick Poor c. SINCE it hath been the fate of many good Undertakings though in themselves highly beneficial to the Publick to miscarry and come to nothing not so much by the open opposition of interessed and designing Persons as by their private insinuations and misrepresentations whereby they prepossess the People to their own great hurt and damage That the like misfortune may not befal the charitable Design now set on foot by the College of Physicians LONDON for the Relief of the Poor Sick in and about this great City and Suburbs We have thought it necessary to give a short historical account of the Rise and Progress of this matter whereby we hope it will appear That this Undertaking as it was several years since begun before there were any differences or misunderstandings either amongst our selves or with the Apothecaries upon no other ground but the commiseration of the deplorable condition of the Poor Sick especially poor House-keepers not usually taken care of by the Parishes so also that the same hath been ever since carried on with the same honest intention And we doubt not but a work so advantagious to the Sick Poor and so honourable to this City will in the same manner be shortly finish'd and brought to its utmost perfection To omit therefore what has in former times been attempted of this nature by our Predecessors of whose early Charity we have several Instances recorded in our Annals the first step we find tending directly to this purpose is a Vote of the College in their publick Meeting July 28. 1687. to this effect It was this day appointed and ordained by the Vnanimous Vote of the College That all the Members thereof whether Fellows Candidates or Licentiates of the said College shall give their advice gratis to all their sick neighbouring Poor when desired within the City of London or seven miles round This Order being carried by several of the Members of the College to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen They Aug. 23. 1687. did by Dr. Betts one of our Elects return the College Thanks for this their charitable Order with this further request to the College That they would explain themselves as to whom they meant by Poor which they did by declaring That all those should be esteemed Poor that brought Certificates under the hand of the Rector Vicar or Curate of the Parish wherein they dwelt of their being such An account of this was by the respective Aldermen sent to each Ward But partly by the industry of some Persons with whose private Gain it was not so consistent and especially by reason of the high Prices of Medicines above the purchace of Poor House-keepers it was for that time stifled Which the College perceiving and desirous that so good an Intention to so many poor People might not be frustrated several methods for the removing this obstruction were proposed at their general Meetings as The expending all the Fines of the College in providing Physick for the Poor and the like And at last they came to this Resolution which was past into an Order Aug. 13. 1688. viz. The College having considered that the Charitable Vote which formerly passed for prescribing to the Poor gratis hath not had the effect intended by reason of the great Prices they are obliged to pay for their Medicines have this day unanimously voted That the Laboratory of the College be forthwith fitted up for preparing Medicines for the Poor and also the room adjoyning for a Repository And the College further gave a power to those Members who would subscribe to this Charitable Work to choose a Committee from among themselves who should order what Compositions and Simples should be kept at the College for the benefit of the Poor and manage the whole affair as they thought fit It was expected that upon this Order the Apothecaries rather than the College should make Medicines themselves would have so far concurred in this Charitable Work as to have born their part therein And that as we had freely offered our pains to prescribe for the Poor for nothing so they would have given them their pains also in furnishing them with necessary Medicines at the Intrinsick Value or at least for some small Profit But instead of that several amongst them set themselves by all the art and industry they were capable of to frustrate the whole design and finding no method so promising as to stir up a party among our selves to oppose our proceedings they fell to intrigueing with several of our own Members who were too easily lured off to serve the Apothecaries interest for their own private advantage And from this cause as we have too much reason to believe have chiefly sprung the unhappy Differences that are still fomented among us But notwithstanding all the discouragements we met with from those of our own Members who contrary to all the Obligations of Honour and Conscience constantly discovered to our Adversaries whatsoever passed in the College relating to this design and exposed to them the Names of such as were Promoters thereof that they might be kept out as far as in them lay from all Patients where they should be proposed and themselves brought in These and several other difficulties were though after a considerable time intervening at last broke through and the College proceeded to enforce their former Order by another of the 18th March 1694. to this effect Whereas in the year 1687. there was an Order made by the unanimous consent of the College obliging every Member thereof to give his Advice gratis in their respective Parishes in the Cities of London and Westminster and Suburbs thereof to all Poor Sick as should be recommended to them for such by the Rector Vicar or Curate of the said Parishes by Certificate under their Hands which said Order was presented to the City Now we judge it necessary that the said Order be again presented to the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and Common Council and do hereby again require strict Obedience from all our Members to the aforesaid Order And a Committee was then chosen by the College to take care of the managing this matter to the best advantage of the designed Charity
following was immediately made WHereas the several Orders of the College of Physicians London for prescribing Medicins gratis to the Poor Sick of the Cities of London and Westminster and parts adjacent as also the Proposals made by the said College to the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and Common Council of London in pursuance thereof have hitherto been ineffectual for that no method hath been taken to furnish the Poor with Medicins for their Cure at low and reasonable rates We therefore whose names are here underwritten Fellows or Members of the said College being willing effectually to promote so great a Charity by the Counsel and good liking of the President and College declared in their Comitia hereby to wit each of us severally and apart and not the one for the other of us do oblige our selves to pay to Dr. Thomas Burwel Fellow and Elect of the said College the sum of Ten Pounds apiece of Lawful Money of England by such proportions and at such times as to the major part of the Subscribers hereto shall seem most convenient Which Money when received by the said Dr. Thomas Burwel is to be by him expended in preparing and delivering Medicins to the Poor at their intrinsick Value in such manner and at such Times and by such Orders and Directions as by the major part of the Subscribers hereto shall in Writing be hereafter appointed and directed for that purpose In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our Hands and Seals this Twenty Second Day of December 1696. Tho. Millington Praeses Tho. Burwell Elect and Censor Sam. Collins Elect. Edw. Browne Elect. Rich. Torless Elect and Censor Edw. Hulse Elect. Tho. Gill Censor Will. Dawes Censor Jo. Hutton Rob. Brady Hans Sloane Rich. Morton John Hawys Ch. Harel Rich. Robinson Joh. Bateman Walter Mills Dan. Coxe Henry Sampson Thomas Gibson Charles Goodall Edm. King Sam. Garth Barnh Soame Denton Nicholas Joseph Gaylard John Woollaston Steph. Hunt Oliver Horseman Rich. Morton Jun. David Hamilton Hen. Morelli Walter Harris William Briggs Th. Colladon Martin Lister Jo. Colbatch Bernard Connor W. Cockburn J. le Feure P. Sylvestre Cha. Morton THIS Instrument being thus subscribed by the President the Censors all the Elects but two most of the Senior Fellows and several of the Candidates and Licentiates a College was called That a Grant might be forthwith made by way of Lease to the Subscribers of the Laboratory and other Rooms and conveniencies necessary for executing the intended charitable design Which notwithstanding the opposition of some few was by a very great majority granted and afterwards sealed in open College And now the Laboratory Repository c. are preparing with all imaginable expedition that so the benefit of the present season for making all sorts of necessary Medicines for the use of the Sick Poor may not be lost but that we may be in a condition shortly to receive make up and distribute all such Bills and Prescriptions as shall be directed to the Repository by such Physicians as have been so charitable as to subscribe to this Undertaking for the benefit of their Poor Sick Neighbours Here follow the ANSWERS offered by the Apothecaries to the Proposals of the City-Committee with the Physicians Reply thereunto ANSWERS humbly offered by the Society of Apothecaries to the Proposals made by the Worshipful the Committee appointed by Common Council to treat with the Physicians in relation to the Poor THAT in pursuance of your Worships Directions We the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Society have maturely considered the Proposals to us made And in the first place crave leave to return our Thanks and due acknowledgment to this Committee for communicating the said matters and Proposals of the Physicians to us and do most willingly take this opportunity to declare That as we esteem it our principal Glory to be Members of this great and honourable City so we shall be ever ready to contribute to the utmost of our Power to the Honour and Welfare thereof or any the Members depending thereon And to that end To the First Proposal Who may be fittest persons to recommend the Objects of Charity WE take it That the Minister Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor in each Parish are the most fit as best knowing the Poor and their necessity To the Second Who shall administer the Physick c WE do with submission think it most convenient That it be left to every Parish from time to time to make use of what Apothecary they please being a Freeman within their own Parish either one or more according to the smalness or largeness thereof And in case any Parish be without an Apothecary then to take any neighbouring Freeman as they shall think fit To the Third Who shall price the Medicines delivered for the use of the Poor WE are humbly of opinion That every man in his own way is best able to make his own Bill and hope it will be sufficient satisfaction in this point that we undertake That all our Members shall use the greatest moderation possible and in case any dispute arise That then as to all Medicines delivered to the use of such Poor for whom the Churchwardens of each Parish shall be obliged to pay the price shall be regulated to the intrinsick value of every Medicine by the Master and Wardens for the time being And for the better promoting so good a work the Master Wardens and Assistants of this Company do further offer not only from time to time to sell such Poor their Medicines when prescribed by a Physician at their intrinsick value but if it may be acceptable and approved of by an Order of this Honourable Court They will being thereto summoned by the Churchwardens or Overseers of any Parish in the absence of a Physician and until one can be called in give them all the assistance they are capable of by administring such Remedies as may be necessary and that without reward or payment either for Pains or Medicines The Opinion of the Committee of the College of Physicians concerning the Answer of the Apothecaries to the Proposals made to them by the Worshipful the Committee appointed by common Council to treat with the Physicians in relation to the Poor TO the First Proposal we agree viz. That the Ministers Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of each Parish do recommend to the Physicians such as they shall judge Objects of Charity To the Second We think it most proper that the Common Council should chuse and appoint one or more Apothecaries being Freemen in each Parish or Ward or any Neighbouring Apothecaries if the Parish or Ward be without one and that the Shops of such Apothecaries be distinguish'd by some Inscription or other Mark whereby they may be publickly known to the Physicians and Poor Provided that no Apothecary be so appointed nor continued in that imploy who has done or shall do any thing to prejudice or affront the City or College of Physicians To the Third
consisting of the Elects Censors and 8. Fellows whereof 5. to be a Committee This Order was accordingly presented to the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and Common Council June 18. 1695. Upon which the Common Council did nominate appoint and choose Sir John Moor Sir William Hedges and Sir Jos Smart Aldermen Mr. Dorvile Mr. Ballow Mr. Egglestone Sir Edmund Wiseman Mr. Richer and Mr. Palfreman Commoners whereof any one of the said Aldermen and two of the said Commoners to be a Committee to return the Thanks of that Court to the College of Physicians for such their Order and with them to consult how to improve the advantage proposed by the said College for the relief of the said poor Inhabitants July 24th The Committee of the City and College met where the Thanks of the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and Common Council was returned to the College of Physicians for their Charitable Order The Committee of the College delivered in a List of the Names of all their Members with the places where they lived which was desired by the City to be printed Then the Committee of the City made several Proposals or Queries as First Who should be recommended as fitting objects of this Charity Secondly Who should be the Persons that should make up the Physicians Prescriptions in the several Wards and Parishes of the City Thirdly Who should price the Medicines prescribed by the Physicians Bills After which they with the College-Committee passing over the first Proposal which was sufficiently answered by the College's Order proceeded to debate the second and third and came to this Resolution That some Apothecaries should be found out who should supply the Poor with Medicines at such Rates as should be adjudged reasonable by the Physicians in or near the several Parishes which the Committee of the City earnestly recommended to the Physicians to take care of and promised that they would doe the same on their part Upon this the Committee of the College applyed themselves with great diligence to answer the said desire of the City-Committee and after some time found out several honest and charitable Apothecaries who very cheerfully and readily embraced the offer and at the solicitation of the Physicians entred into this following Subscription We whose names are here underwritten are willing to furnish the Poor within our respective Parishes with Medicines at such Rates as the Committee of Physicians shall judge reasonable Witness our hands Which subscription we have now by us but for the Subscribers sakes do not divulge their Names When the Committee of the College had got a sufficient number of Apothecaries to furnish all the Wards of London they acquainted the Committee of the City therewith requesting them at the same time that they would for their Encouragement endeavour to have an Act passed in the Common Council to excuse these Charitable Apothecaries from any troublesome Office Then the Committee of the City did desire the College-Committee to get a further Addition to their former Order whereby the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor or any of them might as well as the Ministers recommend by Certificate fit Objects of Charity as also that all hired Servants and Apprentices to Handicrafts men should be reckoned as Objects of Charity which the Committee of the College promised to endeavour Now the College thought they had surmounted all Difficulties and had attained their end But the Apothecaries Company having got knowledge of our Meeting with a Committee of the City did not only draw up and present a Paper to the Committee of the City tending wholly to frustrate the charitable ends of our design which was sufficiently answered Article by Article by the Committee of the College Copies of both which are hereafter inserted but also hearing that the Committee of Physicians had gotten Apothecaries enough to supply this Charity they were extreamly alarmed and presently called a Hall wherein partly by threatning to impose upon them the most troublesome and expensive Offices of their Company and partly by charging them upon this compliance with the Physicians with breach of their Oaths to their Company they affrighted most of these Apothecaries from this undertaking as if their Oath obliged them Not to do any thing charitably September the 4th 1695. The College made such addition to their Order as the City-Committee had desired At which Meeting the College did likewise approve and confirm all that had been done by their Committee giving them thanks for the care and trouble they had already taken and desiring them to proceed and perfect this charitable Work owning and declaring all that the Committee had done to be the Act of the College and not the Act of Six or Seven men as some had industriously though falsely given out and that the College would accordingly stand by their Committee in what they had done At the next Meeting of the Committees the addition by the College to their former Order desired by the City-Committee was delivered to them who were much pleased therewith Then they proceeded to consider who should price the Medicines And the College-Committee was content because they would avoid every thing that might obstruct this designed Charity that the Master and Wardens of the Apothecaries Company should do it every Year and afterwards bring it to the President and Censors of the College for their Approbation but even this was also opposed by the Apothecaries Company Thus it appearing that the Apothecaries were resolved to obstruct this Charity in every particular the City-Committee ask'd the Physicians then present Whether their College would provide Medicines for the Poor at reasonable Rates if the Apothecaries should continue to refuse so to do To which they answered That they believed rather than so Charitable a design should fail the College would undertake it and promis'd that they would propose it at their next publick College-meeting Hereupon the City-Committee being fully satisfied with the Physicians Answers to their Proposals and with their sincerity in transacting this whole affair with them as also that the methods offered by them were the most proper for obtaining the end proposed drew up a Report accordingly of the whole matter which the Chairman Sir William Hedges offered to read at the next Common Council but some affair that required a quicker dispatch intervening it was put off for that time and this happening at the latter end of the year the Common Council was not long after of course dissolved and another chosen in which several of the then Committee were left out which probably was the cause that this Report was never after called for The matter resting thus and the College being in expectation to hear from the City they did nothing further in it till Decemb. 22. 1696. when a Proposition was made in the publick College for a Subscription by the Fellows Candidates and Licentiates for carrying on this Charity which being therein approved about nine or ten only dissenting a Subscription to the effect