On lettering the Condition of the Poor, 223 



The usual expense of medicines is here reduced, because 

 in 'many instances the dietetic will be substituted for drugs, 

 which would otherwise be administered, producing at pre- 

 sent little or no benefit to debilitated patients, whose disor- 

 ders have been chiefly occasioned by deficient nourish- 

 ment. 



The soups to be of two kinds : — Beef tea for debilitated pa- 

 tients ; and a stronger broth mixed with vegetable substances 

 for those who are in a state of convalescence, and can bear 

 a stronger diet. Not more than a pint of any of the two 

 ?oups'\vill probably be ordered by the physician or surgeon 

 to any one patient, which must be taken in the common 

 kitchen of the dispensary. The cost of a pint of either kind 

 of soup cannot be estimated at more than twopence, (in- 

 cluding the expense of fuel,) and this to be given in lieu of a 

 composition of medicine which would probably cost double 

 that sum. Two common boilers, such as are used in pri- 

 vate families, will be sufficient to prepare the soups for each 

 day's delivery ; and admitting that twenty patients (although 

 an opinion prevails that ten will be the utmost number) re- 

 quire soup, the whole quantity to be prepared on any one 

 day will not exceed four gallons, and the total expense will 

 be 3s. 4d. Other patients may require strong porter — a pint 

 of which (in a pint bottle) is to be delivered to the patient on 

 the prescription of the physician or surgeon ; and supposing 

 ten pints to be issued in one day, the expense will not ex- 

 ceed 2s. 6d. — the patient to bring back the bottle to be again 

 filled, or not, according to the prescription of the medical 

 gentlemen. It has already been observed, that the common 

 kitchen of the house will be amply sufficient for every pur- 

 pose; and the design is capable of being so systematized as 

 to prevent the possibility of abuse. The labour to the cook- 

 maid will be next to nothing. The spirits will be made up 

 in cordials, by the direction of the physicians, and admi- 

 nistered to such patients as may require this species of as- 

 sistance in order to promote their recovery. It will be de- 

 livered in the disguised state of a drug, to be taken at dif- 

 ferent times, under circumstances where no abuse can pos- 

 sibly take place, at the residence of the patients. 



Vol. 33. No. 131. March 180Q. P Supposing 



