| 214 | L Y I | |
tinction 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 wo-
men. 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; sick-
ness and poverty united seem to compre-
hend 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 con-
venience these distressed objects can re-
quire, is amply provided; commodious
apartments and beds, good nursing, plain
suitable diet, proper medicines, the chari-
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| L Y I | 215 |
table assistance of gentlemen of skill and
experience in midwifery, and, on due oc-
cations, 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 receiv-
ed orders of admission; and the number of
patients greatly increasing, four small
houses contiguous to the back of the hos-
pital 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 affi-
davit 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 im-
pediment. It is also required, that the
women produce a testimonial of their ho-
nesty and poverty, under the hands of two
substantial housekeepers in the neighbour-
hood 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
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