NOTICES OP PERU. 



243 



and maintained, until they become capable of gaining their 

 own subsistence, or are married. It was originally endowed 

 with a capital of ^341,626, with some real estate, which 

 yielded, in 1791, 14,932 dollars annually. 



The <*Casa de Amparadas," or House of Refuge, was 

 founded by the Viceroy, Conde de Lemos, in 1670. It re- 

 ceived indigent females who were without homes, and an 

 apartment was destined for the reception of those whose 

 honor and hopes had been blighted by the libertines of the 

 capital ; here they were provided for, and every mild means 

 was resorted to, for the regeneration of their morals. 



Another institution, perhaps more beneficial than either of 

 the others, is the "Real Monte de Piedad." It was begun 

 in 1777, with a capital of 23,000 dollars, which was increased 

 by donations, by a tax on the lottery of 12,000 dollars, by 

 another on the cock-pit of 400 dollars, and an annual benefit 

 at the bull-bait. Its object was to aid the poor, and in case of 

 their death, to purchase masses for the benefit of their souls. 

 In 1792, the directors distributed from three to four thousand 

 dollars monthly, amongst from one hundred to one hundred 

 and fifty persons. 



Lima contains eleven public hospitals, viz; San Andrez, 

 for lunatics; Santa Ana, and Santa Maria de la Caridad, for 

 women only ; Espiritu Santo, for mariners ; San Bartolome, 

 for negroes and the various castes of both sexes, in separate 

 houses ; San Juan de Dios; San Pedro; Bethlemitas; the Re- 

 fuge, for the incurables of both sexes ; San Lazero, for lepers of 

 both sexes ; and Las Camilas, for women under every circum- 

 stance and disease. 



All these hospitals are large, and offer a fine field to the 

 medical student for acquiring a practical knowledge of all 

 forms of disease. The number of flesh wounds, inflicted by 

 knives in the personal rencontres, so frequently taking place 

 amongst the lower orders, is astonishingly great. Where 

 Irishmen of a similar rank resort to the shillalah, and English- 

 men and Americans to the fists, Peruvians fly to the knife, 

 and end the broil by the death or severe wound of one of the 

 party. It is in hospitals and charitable institutions of large 



