A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related ...

1628 Cont - 1658
1628 cont "Exercitatio de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis Animalibus" by William Harvey (1578-
1657, physician at St Bartholomew's Hospital) published.
1632 The Company of Parish Clerks, under licence from Charles I, published "Bills of
Mortality". These were the first returns of death attributed to cause.
The Royal College of Physicians of London obtained an order forbidding apothecaries
to prescribe medicines. See 1703.
1635 The first national postal service between London and Edinburgh established.
Hackney coaches limited to 3 mph in London.
1636 Epidemic of plague. See 1647 and 1665.
1641 The Grand Remonstrance beseeched the King to "concur with the humble desires of
your people in a parliamentary way, for the preserving the peace and safety of the kingdom
from the malicious designs of the Popish party...". It set out all the unconstitutional acts of
Charles I, the good work that Parliament had done, and demanded the appointment of
ministers by Parliament.
A Scottish Act ratified the privileges of surgeons and barbers in Edinburgh, and gave
powers to fine any person practising surgery who was not a freeman of the recognised craft.
1642-48 Civil War
1643 "Religio Medici" published, written in 1635 by Thomas Browne (1605-82, physician in
Norwich).
1647 Aberdeen town council made regulations in an attempt to control an outbreak of
plague, one of which required "poysone laid for destroying myce and rattons".
1649 Execution of Charles I (January 30th).
1653-60 The Protectorate. Oliver Cromwell introduced the "Instrument of Government".
1653 Clergy required, as a statutory duty, to keep a weekly record of baptisms, marriages
and deaths (see 1538). Civil marriages in the presence of justices of the peace introduced,
became void in 1660. See 1753.
1654 College of Physicians of Ireland founded; received Royal Charter in 1667.
1656 Population of England estimated to have been 5.3 million.
1657 A College established in Durham "for the better advancement of learning and religion
in those parts".
A coach service began running three times a week between London and Chester. See
1706.