$38 Surgical Cuses in the City Dispensary. 



with the labour of the father, or their domestic conveniences 

 cease to be attended to with the advancing disease of the mo- 

 ther! In this state of things it too frequently happens that 

 an operation is the only resource left, by which even a chance 

 of recovery can be afforded to the afflicted ; and that to be 

 performed under circumstances of all others the most di- 

 stressing, a want of the common necessaries of life com- 

 bined with disease. 



The removal of the diseased to an hospital is attended 

 with increasing danger in a ratio with the delay it produces, 

 and also as it operates on the minds of the sufferers, who are 

 aboui to exchange every thing that is near and dear to them, 

 in the very hour of danger and distress, to seek an asylum 

 among strangers, at which the human mind recoils, be the 

 advantages what they may. Here the dispensaries, from the 

 daily and ready access which the poor have to them, are 

 paramount to all other institutions. 



These distressing scenes, which too frequently occur, and 

 in many instances end in leaving a disconsolate widow with 

 a helpless offspring burthensome to the parish, might ge- 

 nerally be prevented by a proper bandage or truss applied in 

 the beginning of the disease, and continued with care. This 

 might be accomplished at a small expense compared with 

 the good that would accrue to society ; it would even be a 

 saving to the community at large, by the prevention of ac- 

 cidents which always tend to increase the parochial rates. 



The funds required to carry this plan into execution are 

 very small, as three trusses may be provided for each guinea 

 subscribed, no other expense being necessary : the great 

 object to be kept in view is the easy access, by which every 

 diseased applicant may obtain a ready and permanent relief. 



This subject will be resumed in a subsequent report. 



Greville-street, Hatton-garden, 

 March 23, 1&07. 



Erratum. — Page 79, fof mijct. aloes, read tniit. oleosa. 



XLI. On 



