x THE SEA-BATHING INFIRMARY 07 



has increased from 40 to 180, and the institution, under 

 its present title, the " Royal Sea-Bathing Hospital," 

 continues to carry on a work of the highest usefulness, 

 which has been imitated in other places. Lettsom much 

 enjoyed his yearly visit to the Infirmary, driving down 

 from London through the night, and spending three days 

 at the place ; it was almost the only holiday he ever 

 found time to take. Three of the wards still bear his 

 name, and the hospital is an abiding monument of his 

 genius. 1 



Lettsom enjoyed for many years a large income from 

 his practice ; it reached 5000 before he was forty-five 

 years of age, and even rose to 12,000 in a single year. 

 He was extraordinarily quick in seeing his patients. 

 Meeting Dr. William Saunders at a consultation one day, 

 he showed him his long list. " My dear doctor," said 

 Saunders, " how do you manage ? Do you write for 

 them by the dozen ? or have you some patent plan of 

 practising by steam my much esteemed friend ? " His 

 fondness for the fair sex set the lying tongue of scandal 

 moving, and his foibles did not escape the satirists, who 

 wrote of him : 



When patients used to come to I, 



'Twas " I physics and I sweats 'em," 



When after that they chose to die, 

 It did not grieve I. Lettsom. 



In generous deeds I gave my pelf, 

 And though the world forgets 'em, 



I never shall forget myself ; 



What's due to Coakley Lettsom. 2 



1 Hints, iii. 235 ; Gent. Mag. 1797, ii. 841 ; 1816, i. 17. Information from 

 the Secretary of the Royal Sea-Bathing Hospital. 



8 The Wonderful Magazine and Marvellous Chronicle, 1793, i. 346 ; [W. 

 Wadd], Nugce Canom, 1827, p. 15 ; Notes and Queries, March 10, 1906, 191 ; 

 March r7, 210. A proprietary medicine, " Lettsom's Liver Pills," is still sold 

 at a druggist's in Aldgate. The version there displayed is : 



"I, John Lettsom, 

 Blisters, bleeds and sweats 'em. 

 If after that they please to die, 



I, John, lets "em." 



