Part 21

At the meeting of the Council on the 7th of August, Alderman Elgie moved that the Public Health Committee should report to the next meeting as to what offices were necessary to be appointed, and other steps requisite to be taken under the Health of Towns Act. This was carried by a majority of 19 to 11.

At a subsequent meeting, the committee reported that the officers required would be a clerk, treasurer, surveyor, and medical officer of health. An amendment for delay was rejected by 22 to 12, and the clerk and treasurer were at once appointed.

In consequence of the determination thus evinced by the Council to proceed vigorously with the practical application of the measure, a public meeting was called by the parties hostile to it. This was held on the 25th of September, 1849, and presided over by the Mayor, Mr. Padmore. Mr. Summerfield moved the adoption of a memorial to the Central Board, praying that the act might not be applied to Worcester, because it was denied that the mortality of the city exceeded 23 in 1,000; and because a majority of the inhabitants were said to be unfavourable to the introduction of the Public Health Act. Alderman Thompson seconded the memorial. Alderman Edward Webb proposed, as an amendment, “That inasmuch as the act is at present applied to the city, and considering the unsatisfactory state of the dwellings of the poor, the insufficient drainage, and bad supply of water, the memorial is unnecessary.” Alderman Elgie and Mr. Waters addressed the meeting at great length on the general question, and pointed out the absurdity of supposing that any memorial to a board in London could stop the operation of an Act of Parliament. Excepting Mr. James Wall, who made a few observations, no one attempted to speak on the other side; but the amendment was lost, and the memorial carried by a large majority.

The presentation of the memorial was intrusted to the Rev. R. Sargeant and Mr. Lucy, but the Board declined to receive them as a deputation in the absence of Mr. Clark. The Rev. R. Sargeant, therefore, forwarded it with a letter, and the Board of course returned for answer, that they had no power to stop proceedings under an Act of Parliament; and further, that the act had been legally applied to Worcester—as the Registrar General had certified to them, under his own hand, that the mortality was 25.05 in 1,000.

The appointment of surveyor was postponed by the Council till after the municipal elections for 1849; but at the meeting of November 16, further delay was resisted, and an amendment to that effect was defeated by 26 votes to 12. Mr. Edward Leader Williams was then chosen surveyor under the Public Health Act, by 23 votes to 8 given for the opposing candidate, Mr. Samuel Purchas. The question of salary was postponed.

For some months Mr. Williams went on, under the directions of the health committee, preparing his plans for the improved drainage and water supply of the city. His report on the drainage question was issued and printed in June, 1850, and met with very general approval. Having been called before the Council, at their meeting in August, and given explanations upon some points, the Council in full meeting adopted the report with only two dissentient voices. The report estimated the cost for the entire drainage of the city at £17,345.

The excitement amongst ratepayers was, however, kept up by a question of the necessity of appointing a medical officer of health; and so strong was the current of public opinion against such an appointment, that the Council were compelled to abandon all thoughts of making it. Dr. Malden and Dr. Hastings both addressed letters to the Council, declaring that, in their opinion, a medical officer was needed for the proper carrying out of the act.

The by-laws necessary under the Public Health Act for the regulation of slaughter houses, lodging houses, &c., were another fruitful source of squabbles during 1850. On the 5th of March a code was agreed to in the Council, by a majority of 15 to 7, which rendered it necessary that an “officer of health” should have the superintendence of such places, and to these the Secretary of State gave his assent. In July, however, the anti-sanitary party having increased in boldness, carried a new set of by-laws, by a majority of 18 to 16, in which the words “inspector of nuisances” was everywhere inserted instead of “officer of health.” They then begged the Home Secretary to endorse their inconsistent proceeding, but he refused to do so. The original by-laws are, therefore, now law in the city of Worcester; but as there is no “officer of health,” no use has been made of them—they remain a dead letter.

On the 5th September, 1850, the anti-sanitary party had a public meeting in the Guildhall, at which Mr. Toulmin Smith attended and delivered an harangue against centralisation. The meeting actually came to a resolution “to resist the application of the act in that city and elsewhere; and, if possible, obtain its repeal.”

At the municipal elections for 1850, parties were returned to the Council avowedly “to put a stop to the working of the act altogether;” but the dignity of the Council and its proceedings was not improved by this infusion of new blood. Up to the present time not a single step has been taken towards the practical application of the act in the city; but, instead of that, the Council have been engaged in a dispute with the surveyor, whom they refused properly to remunerate—and thus they have involved the city in great expense to no sort of purpose. The details of this affair it would be altogether undesirable to resuscitate, and the more so, as the Central Board have pronounced the Council to be entirely in the wrong; but there is reason to hope that wiser and more enlightened views, on a subject which involves the future prosperity of the city and the health and life of its inhabitants, will soon prevail.

WORCESTER INFIRMARY.

THIS noble charity had its origin in the philanthropy of the medical men of Worcester in the year 1745. It was first opened in a room in Silver Street, and it was not for twenty years afterwards that the present hospital was built, at an expense of upwards of £6,000. It has been enlarged at various periods since that time, and is now capable of accommodating 100 in-patients. The funded property of the institution exceeds £27,000, and the annual subscriptions amount to upwards of £1,200. The physicians and surgeons attached to the institution at the beginning of the present century, were Dr. Johnstone, Dr. Seward, and Dr. Mylne; Mr. Pennell Cole, Mr. Sandford, and Mr. Carden. The following are minutes of the appointments which have since taken place, and of the more important proceedings of the governors:

1800—JANUARY 31—Election of physician in the room of Dr. Johnstone, who resigned. There were three candidates, and the choice of the subscribers fell on Dr. Skey, who had 127 votes; Dr. Philip W. Wilson 108, and Dr. Barnett 73.

1800—JUNE 27—At a quarterly meeting of the governors, it was ordered that all legacies and benefactions amounting to or exceeding £50 be funded.

1801—AUGUST 7—In consequence of “the distressed state of the Infirmary and the dearness of every article of provision,” the order respecting the funding of £50 legacies was suspended.

1801—AUGUST 28—Dr. Barnett unanimously elected one of the physicians in the room of Dr. Chambers, resigned.

1803—FEBRUARY 1—Dr. Philip W. Wilson unanimously elected in the room of Dr. Skey, resigned.

1810—MARCH 30—It was ordered that the property of the institution, then invested in the Three per Cents., should be transferred to the Four per Cent. Government Annuities.

1812—JUNE 26—Ordered that in future the secretaries of the Infirmary should give security, by bond, to the amount of £200, for the delivery of all books and papers belonging to the Infirmary. This was in consequence of the late secretary, Mr. Staples, having refused to give up the books, and a dispute as to the balance due from him. The funds being very low and inadequate to meet the expenses, the Bishop of the Diocese requested the parochial clergy to make collections in their respective churches on behalf of the institution, by which means £1,483 were added to the funds.

1812—OCTOBER 2—Mr. Charles Hastings elected house surgeon in the room of Mr. Blower, resigned. Mr. Hastings had a competitor in the person of Mr. James Lewis; and the votes were—for Mr. Hastings, 132; Mr. Lewis, 131.

1813—AUGUST 13—The number of patients which each subscriber was allowed to recommend was limited to one patient for every guinea subscribed. The high price of provisions was alleged as the reason for this step.

1814—AUGUST 30—Dr. G. Woodyatt elected physician on the resignation of Dr. Barnett.

1815—JUNE 30—The order, limiting the number of patients, rescinded, and the subscribers permitted to recommend two patients for each guinea subscribed, as was the case previously. The medical officers were requested to invite the rest of the faculty in Worcester to witness all the more important operations.

1815—NOVEMBER 6—Election of surgeon: the office being vacant by the retirement of Mr. Pennel Cole, Lord Somers proposed Mr. Thomas Stephenson, who was seconded by Lord Beauchamp; Mr. Josiah Palmer proposed Mr. J. P. Sheppard, seconded by Mr. Watson, Stourport; Hon. and Rev. W. Jenkinson proposed Mr. Dangerfield, seconded by Dr. Cameron. The result of the ballot showed for Mr. Stephenson, 335 votes; for Mr. Sheppard, 238; and for Mr. Dangerfield, 135. The total polled was thus 708, or very nearly the then average number of subscribers.

1815—DECEMBER 29—Mr. Herbert Cole (son of Mr. Pennel Cole, for thirty years one of the surgeons to the Worcester Infirmary) unanimously elected as house surgeon of the institution in the place of Mr. Charles Hastings, resigned.

1816—JANUARY—Sir William Smith, Bart., furnished the matron’s rooms at his own cost.

1816—JULY 29—Dr. Lewis Evans elected a physician in the room of Dr. Cameron, resigned.

1818—APRIL 20—At a large meeting of the governors, Dr. Philip W. Wilson brought forward certain charges against his brother officers of the medical staff, as to an operation which he alleged had been improperly performed, but the charges were dismissed by the governors.

1818—APRIL 24—Dr. Philip W. Wilson retired from his post, as physician, avowedly on the ground that his brother physicians and surgeons constantly opposed the admission of others of the profession to witness the operations they performed. Dr. Wilson’s letter to the public was replied to by Mr. J. H. Savigny, who thought it undesirable that infirmaries should be turned into theatres for display.

1818—OCTOBER 2—Ordered that, if the income arising from subscriptions and funded property is insufficient to keep open two additional wards, then first fitted up, a sum, not exceeding £200 annually, should be appropriated for that purpose from such legacies as should be left to the charity, and not specially directed to be vested in the funds.

1818—NOVEMBER 2—Jonas Malden, M.D., and Charles Hastings, M.D., were appointed physicians in the place of Drs. Philip W. Wilson, and Louis Evans, resigned.

1819—FEBRUARY 15—J. P. Sheppard, Esq., elected surgeon in the room of Mr. Stephenson, resigned.

1819—Dispute amongst the medical men as to the treatment of surgical and medical cases.

1819—APRIL—J. H. Savigny, Esq., took the office of secretary _pro. tem._, in the place of Mr. Jackson, resigned.

1819—OCTOBER 29—Mr. Matthew Pierpoint appointed surgeon in the room of Mr. Sandford, who resigned after twenty-seven years of most useful service to this institution. Mr. Pierpoint was proposed by Lord Deerhurst, and seconded by Mr. Sandford himself.

1820—JANUARY 12—A silver cup presented to Mr. Savigny for his various and important services to the institution.

1823—APRIL—An additional wing erected in addition to the north end of the Infirmary.

1823—JULY 26—Mr. John Eleox chosen secretary to the Infirmary, _vice_ J. H. Savigny, Esq., resigned.

1824—APRIL 23—Dr. Lewis chosen physician in the room of Dr. Woodyatt, deceased.

1826—NOVEMBER 6—Election of a physician in the room of Dr. Lewis, resigned. The candidates were Dr. Nash, proposed by John Williams, Esq., and William Wall, Esq.; and Dr. Streeten, proposed by the Rev. Digby Smith and Major Johnson. At the close of the ballot Dr. Nash was found to have 298 votes, and Dr. Streeten 243—majority for Dr. Nash 55.

1827—MAY 8—The governors agreed to the erection of an operating room, and other necessary offices, at an expense of £700.

1829—JUNE 5—Mr. T. H. Wheeler elected secretary, _vice_ Mr. Elcox, resigned.

1829—JULY 27—Mr. T. Carden elected surgeon, _vice_ John Carden, Esq., resigned.

1830—JULY 2—The funded property of the institution, hitherto in different stocks, was all transferred to the Three-and-a-half per Cents. Reduced.

1833—DECEMBER 27—At the quarterly meeting of the governors, Earl Beauchamp in the chair, it was announced that £1,126 had been collected for the institution during the last few months at different churches and Dissenting chapels, which would pay off the debt of £550, due to the treasurers, and enable them to get through the next twelve months without touching the funded property. Mr. Gutch afterwards read a report of a committee which had been appointed to inquire into the expenditure of the institution which had, for a series of years, exceeded the income. They admitted that there had been great abuses in various departments of the institution, and especially as to the supply of drugs and chemicals, and it was therefore recommended that a practical chemist should be appointed on the drug committee, who, during his appointment, should be ineligible to supply drugs. They recommended also that all legacies, above £100, should be funded, with sundry other regulations. The report was received, but it was determined not to publish the evidence upon which it was founded, by a majority of 16 to 11.

1834—APRIL 4—At the quarterly meeting of the governors, a resolution, determining that all legacies of £100 should be funded, was adopted; and it was also resolved that the evidence taken respecting the mal-administration of the drug department, should be referred to a select committee.

1834—JUNE 27—It was determined to take counsel’s opinion as to the power of the Corporation to renew the lease of ground on which the Infirmary stood, as it belonged to Nash’s Charity. This matter had repeatedly been under the attention of the governors, and at last it was found necessary to obtain an Act of Parliament, in order to legalise the lease. The sub-committee reported that no further investigation that could be made into the irregularities which had taken place, and the discrepancy between the amount of drugs ordered and consumed, would be satisfactory; and so the matter finally dropped.

1838—AUGUST 16—Election of a surgeon, in the room of Mr. Thomas Carden, deceased. There were no less than ten candidates, and a great deal of interest was excited in the matter by peculiar circumstances attending some of the candidates. John Williams, Esq., was called to preside over the meeting, which was adjourned to the County Courts for the sake of room. The chairman proposed Mr. Edward Morris, who was seconded by William Acton, Esq.; Colonel Davis and Mr. Sidebottom proposed Mr. J. H. Walsh; James Morton, Esq., and R. Spooner, Esq., proposed Mr. H. D. Carden; the Major and Mr. Duncan proposed Mr. Budd. An objection had been raised to Mr. Carden because he had not been, as the rules were considered to require, resident during the previous twelve months in Worcester. Counsel’s opinion was taken on the point, and a very tedious and hot discussion took place on the matter at the meeting. Ultimately it came to a vote, and 106 declared Mr. Carden eligible, and 90 that he was not. His name, therefore, went to the ballot, and he was elected—having received 310 votes to 131 for Mr. Walsh, and 40 for Mr. Budd.

1843—JUNE 30—At a quarterly meeting of the governors, a strong resolution was passed in reference to a disgraceful attack upon C. H. Hebb, Esq., which had appeared in the _Guardian_ newspaper. Mr. Hebb having had an operation very successfully performed upon him, presented the Infirmary with a sum of £10 in token of his thankfulness, and partly because the instruments belonging to that institution had been employed by the operating surgeon. The writer in the _Guardian_ affirmed that the instruments had been purchased solely with a view to this very operation, and so “the shine was taken out” of Mr. Hebb’s donation. This proved to be utterly false.

1845—DECEMBER 19—A very sharp contest for the office of secretary to the Infirmary, in the room of Mr. T. H. Wheeler, deceased, between Mr. John Palmer, proposed by Mr. Curtler and Dr. Hastings—and Mr. D. W. Nash, proposed by the Rev. T. Pearson and Mr. John Parker. Mr. Nash had 216 votes, and Mr. Palmer 169.

1846—MARCH 28—At the quarterly meeting of the governors, the committee appointed, on the motion of Mr. Curtler, to inquire into an alleged laxity of attendance on the part of the medical officers of the institution, and ill conduct of its general business, presented their report. Mr. Curtler, however, had not attended the meetings of the committee, because the medical officers all insisted on their right to be present; and several complaints, therefore, had not been brought before them. The charges, in most of the cases investigated, seemed to be disproved; but of the beneficial effect the inquiry had in the improved management of the institution there can be no doubt. Mr. Curtler obtained another committee, to revise the whole of the rules of the institution.

1846—JUNE 26—A quarterly meeting of the governors held in the Nisi Prius Court, at the Shire Hall, with John Williams, Esq., in the chair. The medical men connected with the institution offered great opposition to a motion of Mr. Curtler’s to exclude the subscribers from all meetings of committees, and give them leave only to attend the general quarterly boards; the object being to enable the governors to appoint select committees. Mr. Curtler supported the proposition, as the usual practice of all large bodies and institutions of this kind, and because inquiry into the affairs of the institution by a select committee became absolutely necessary, as the funds were being frittered away and the rules neglected. The medical men said the alteration was aimed at them, and sought their exclusion from the committees. They called select committees secret committees, and said the rules made with so much wisdom by their ancestors ought not to be altered. The medical men defeated Mr. Curtler’s resolution by 58 to 32.

1847—JANUARY 2—A quarterly meeting of the governors held at the Shire Hall, over which the Lord Bishop of the Diocese presided. Mr. Curtler moved for a select committee, on which only two of the medical officers of the institution should attend, to consider what alterations were necessary in the rules. The medical men insisted upon their right to be all present at the meetings of the committee, and only yielded when the majority of the meeting was evidently seen to be against them. They then agreed to a committee of nine gentlemen, reserving the right to delegate any two of their own body to act with them.

1847—MARCH 27—At the quarterly meeting of the governors, Mr. Curtler’s committee for revising the rules of the institution presented their report. The medical men having given way, a great number of alterations were recommended, and power taken to appoint select committees, on which two of the medical officers should always serve. The other medical men of the city and neighbourhood were invited to witness operations; and the salary of Mr. Cole, the house surgeon, increased to £100 a year. Mr. Curtler mentioned—as one among other things showing how necessary inquiry had been—that the malt supplied to the institution was enough for twice the beer that was consumed within the walls, and that about thirty-three hogsheads annually disappeared out of the back door. The report was unanimously received.

1849—MARCH 31—At the quarterly meeting of the governors it was determined that the £840 obtained from the sale of tickets at the Jenny Lind concert should be applied to the building of a chapel for the use of the patients. The Very Rev. the Dean added another £100; and it was principally to his exertions in obtaining what more was necessary in the way of funds, that the public and the patients owe the very pretty erection which is now attached to the back of the main building.

WORCESTER MUSICAL FESTIVALS.

THE history of the origin of the meetings of the three choirs of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester, does not belong to the nineteenth century. It will be sufficient here to say that the first took place in the year 1725 (when £48. 18s. was collected), and that they have gradually risen in importance, till, besides being the means of obtaining annually a very large sum for the support of the widows and orphans of the clergy, they have now taken a first place amongst the musical _réunions_ of the kingdom, and have greatly aided in fostering the melodious science. It will be seen from the following brief notes of the festivals at Worcester, that the most celebrated singers have, from time to time, all taken a part in the performance here of the chief works of the great masters of music. In the seventeen meetings held here this century, upwards of £14,500 have been realised for the clergy’s widows and orphans.

1800—SEPTEMBER 14—Seventy-seventh meeting of the three choirs. The festival this year occupied three days. The sermon was preached by Dr. James. _The Messiah_, _Creation_, _Acis and Galatea_, &c., performed. The principal novelty was the chorus in Handel’s _Ode to St. Cecilia_—“As from the Power.” Chief performers—Madame Mara and Miss Tennant; Messrs. Knyvett, Nield, and Bartleman. Amount collected for the charity, £468; and the receipts for tickets yielded a surplus of £250 in addition.

1803—SEPTEMBER 27—Sermon by the Rev. H. Stillingfleet. Principal vocal performers—Mrs. Billington and Miss Fanny Ross; Messrs. Melville, Incledon, Bartleman, Nield, &c. The collections for the charity amounted to £501. 8s. The receipts were £2,630, and exceeded the expenses by £600.

1806—SEPTEMBER 22—Sermon by the Rev. G. Turberville. _The Messiah_ and _Alexander’s Feast_ were the only entire works performed. The principal performers were Mrs. Billington, Mrs. Vaughan, Miss Melville; Messrs. Harrison, Knyvett, &c. The collections amounted to £714.

1809—SEPTEMBER 26—Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Wingfield. _The Messiah_ the only oratorio performed entire. Performers—Mrs. Billington and Mrs. Vaughan; Mr. Braham (his first engagement at these festivals), Messrs. Bartleman, Vaughan, and Goss. The sum collected for the charity was £800, the largest amount up to that time ever collected.

1812—SEPTEMBER 9—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Onslow, Vicar of Kidderminster. Principal performers—Madame Catalani, Mrs. Salmon, Miss Melville; Messrs. Vaughan, Goss, Hawes, Denman, and Bellamy. _The Messiah_ and _Creation_ performed entire. Collections, £906.

1815—SEPTEMBER 12—Sermon by Rev. J. Fleming St. John. Principal performers—Madame Marconi, Miss Stephens, Mrs. Vaughan; and Messrs. Bartleman, Vaughan, Knyvett, &c. _The Messiah_, Haydn’s _Seasons_, and various selections performed. Collections, £749. The tickets were printed in London, and some spurious ones got into circulation.