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London Lives 1690 to 1800
Crime, Poverty and Social Policy in the Metropolis
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<
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"3684"
>
[41]
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THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNORS, AND THE SEVERAL OFFICERS
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AND SERVANTS, OF THE ROYAL HOSPITALS OF
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BRIDEWELL AND BETHLEM.
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THE CHARGE given to every Governor on his Admission, in the
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presence of the President, or Treasurer, and other Governors,
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assembled in Court.
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<
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"3686"
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"SIR,
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<
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"3687"
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"YOU have been elected, and come now to be admitted, a Governor
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of the Royal Hospitals of Bridewell and Bethlem; which is a station of great
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honour, trust, and influence; and will afford your many opportunities of pro-
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moting the glory of God, and the welfare of your fellow-creatures: for in
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these Hospitals a provision is made for employing idle and vagrant, lewd
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and disorderly persons, as well as those who desire and want employment, in
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honest and useful labour; and also for maintaining and curing needy, de-
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plorable Lunaticks.
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<
p
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"3688"
>
"The distribution of the revenues designed by royal bounty, and many
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charitable persons, for those truly noble and excellent purposes, is now about
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to be committed to your care. And you are hereby solemnly required, and ear-
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nestly requested, to discharge your duty in this behalf with a conscientious regard;
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that your may appear with joy at the judgment seat of CHRIST, when a par-
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ticular account will be taken of all the offices of charity in which we have
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abounded towards our poor brethren; and a peculiar reward conferred on
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those who have performed them with fidelity and zeal.
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<
p
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"3689"
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"In full confidence that you will diligently attend this good work, you
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are admitted a Governor of these Hospitals."
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<
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"3690"
>
42 APPENDIX.
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<
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"3691"
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THE DUTIES OF THE SEVERAL OFFICERS AND SERVANTS
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ARE AS FOLLOW.
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<
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"3692"
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THE PRESIDENT,
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<
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"3693"
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By the original orders in 1557, is to be held and taken as the Chief Ruler
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and Governor, next to the Lord Mayor, of both Hospitals.
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<
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"3694"
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He is therefore to convene General Courts at the stated periods, and at such
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other times as may be necessary; or, when duly required so to do by any Com-
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mittee or by Nine Governors in writing; to preside there, and at any Com-
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</
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mittee which he may chuse to attend.
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<
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"3695"
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He is always to preserve good order and decorum, and a strict adherence to
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the standing rules and orders; and generally to supervise the affairs of both
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Hospitals, promote their true interests, and guard them from perversion or
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abuse by every means in his power.
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<
p
n
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"3696"
>
THE TREASURER
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<
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"3697"
>
Is to receive all legacies, benefactions, dividends and interest on the
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Orphan Stock, Publick Funds, and other securities belonging to the Hospitals;
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and such cash as may remain with the Stewards above what is sufficient for
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ordinary expences; and generally to superintend all receipts and payments
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whatsoever on account of both Hospitals; particularly to pay all the salaries
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</
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quarterly, and all bills as soon as examined and directed.
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<
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"3698"
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He is to keep regular cash-books, and also to enter, in a book to be kept
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</
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for that purpose in the Clerk's office, all his receipts and payments as they may
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occur on account of both Hospitals; so that any Governor may at all times
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have it in his power to see what balance he hath in hand; and he is to invest
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all sums of money he may at any time have in his hands, exceeding a resting
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general balance of £500, in the Public Funds, for the benefit of the Hospitals,
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when so required by a General Court, or by the House Committee, or by the
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Committee of Auditors, or by Nine Governors, although not members of any
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</
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>
Committee; so as such requisition be signed by the said Governors.
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<
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"3699"
>
He is to see that notices of legacies, as well as the time when those legacies are
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</
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paid, are duly entered by the Clerk in the proper book; and he is to produce
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his general cash-book to all Courts and Committees; and report to every
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</
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Court and House Committee what legacies and benefactions have been re-
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</
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ceived since the last meeting.
</
p
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<
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n
=
"3700"
>
He is to attend all Courts, and the Bethlem and House Committees; and to
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</
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convene and preside at Courts in the absence of the President.
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</
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To
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<
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n
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"3701"
>
APPENDIX. 43
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<
p
n
=
"3702"
>
To appoint and attend Grand Committees at
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Bethlem
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type
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"Bethlem"
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>
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type
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"type"
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"undefined"
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</
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for making contracts
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for provisions, and for other extraordinary business; and to view the House
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</
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with the Committees as often as there may be occasion.
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<
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"3703"
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He is to appoint and attend views of the houses and estates belonging to
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</
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these Hospitals in
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London
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"London"
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</
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type
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and
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Middlesex
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value
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"Middlesex"
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</
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type
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"undefined"
>
</
interp
>
, when necessary; and to give tem-
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</
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>
porary directions respecting their management.
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<
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n
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"3704"
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He is to inspect and regulate the conduct of the Artsmasters and their Ap-
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prentices, so long as they remain in the Hospital; to settle such disputes
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as may arise between them; and to give directions for cloathing, binding, and
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discharging, the apprentices, and keeping them in proper order and sub
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</
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ordination.
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>
<
p
n
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"3705"
>
He is to superintend the wardrobe at
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"placeName"
id
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>
Bethlem
</
rs
>
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type
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value
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"Bethlem"
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</
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type
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</
interp
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, and give directions for
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</
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bringing in, and delivering out, such bedding and cloaths as may be necessary.
</
p
>
<
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n
=
"3706"
>
He is to hire all men servants at Bethlem (if wanted; but not otherwise),
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</
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upon the death or discharge of any of the old ones; except the steward,
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apothecary, porter, and barber; and generally to inspect, direct, and super-
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</
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intend, the affairs and management of both Hospitals; conformable to the true
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</
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spirit and meaning of the rules and orders; and to see that the purposes of
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the charities are not in any instance perverted and abused either by the mis
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</
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>
conduct of any officer or servant, or otherwise.
</
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<
p
n
=
"3707"
>
THE CHAPLAIN (when the Offices of PREACHER and READER are united)
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>
<
p
n
=
"3708"
>
Is to preach one sermon, and to read prayers twice every Sunday, Christ-
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mas. day, and Good-friday; and to read prayers and preach once on every
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30th of January, 29th of May, and Steward's Feast; and also to read prayers
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</
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in Lent and at General Courts.
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<
p
n
=
"3709"
>
He is to solemnize marriages; to baptize children; visit the sick; bury the
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</
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>
dead; and keep a register, as well for the precinct, as for the Hospital.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3710"
>
He is to read the Charge to every Governor in open Court; to attend the
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</
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Chapel-wardens upon all collections to be made for briefs and the King's
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</
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letter; to reside constantly at the Hospital; and not to go out of town without
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</
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>
leave of the House Committee, President, or Treasurer.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3711"
>
He is particularly to admonish and instruct the prisoners from time to time,
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</
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>
and see that such as are able do always attend Divine Service; and generally
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</
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to perform all the duties incident to the sacred office of a Minister of the
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</
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>
Church of England, and a Chaplain to Bridewell Hospital and Precinct.
</
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>
<
p
n
=
"3712"
>
44 APPENDIX.
</
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>
<
p
n
=
"3713"
>
THE PHYSICIAN
</
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>
<
p
n
=
"3714"
>
Is to attend the resident officers, servants, and others actually employed at
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>
either Hospital, when ill; and to inform the Committees of any neglects or
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</
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>
abuses,and suggest such reforms as he may think necessary.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3715"
>
He is to attend the Weekly Committee at Bethlem Hospital every Saturday
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</
lb
>
morning, to take in and discharge patients; and every Monday and Wednesday
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</
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>
he is to attend at the said Hospital, to examine and prescribe for the patients,
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</
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>
the Mondays during the bathing season excepted.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3716"
>
THE SURGEON
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3717"
>
Is to attend the Prisoners at Bridewell, and the patients of both Hospitals
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</
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>
who have had accidents, or have disorders that require his assistance; and
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</
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>
particularly in winter, when mortifications are frequent.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3718"
>
He is also to attend all the officers and servants resident at either Hospital,
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</
lb
>
when occasion may require; and to acquaint the respective Stewards and
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>
</
lb
>
Committees of any neglect or abuse.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3719"
>
To attend the Weekly Committee at Bethlem every Saturday on the ad-
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
mission and discharge of patients.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3720"
>
And to examine and sign the Matron of Bridewell's bill for poultices and
<
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>
</
lb
>
sick messes for the prisoners, Etc.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3721"
>
THE APOTHECARY
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3722"
>
Is not to follow any other business; nor is he to absent himself one day
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</
lb
>
without leave of the Bethlem Committee.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3723"
>
He is to furnish medicines to any of the resident officers or servants of either
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</
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>
Hospital. who may be actually indisposed and have occasion for them, but not
<
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</
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>
otherwise.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3724"
>
And he is to acquaint the Steward and Committees respectively of any neg-
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lb
>
</
lb
>
lect or abuse; and to suggest necessary reforms.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3725"
>
He is to give all necessary attendance upon the prisoners and others at
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Bridewell; and to sign the Matron's bill for sick messes to the prisoners, Etc.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3726"
>
At Bethlem, he is to go round the House every morning regularly, or
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
oftener if necessary, and report to the Physician any neglect he may observe
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
in the management of the patients.
</
p
>
<
p
n
=
"3727"
>
To attend the administration of the medicines ordered by the Physician on
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
the days appointed, and see that they are properly taken; and to direct the
<
lb
>
</
lb
>
Keepers in their management of the patients during the absence of the
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>
</
lb
>
Physician.
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>
</
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>
He
</
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>
</
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