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

1779 Cont - 1788
1779 cont The first "Medical Directory", compiled by Samuel Foart Simmons, published;
second edition appeared in 1780 and the third in 1783. See 1858.
Birmingham General Hospital founded.
1780 "Introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislation" by Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832,
English philosopher) published. Sayings included "The greatest happiness of the greatest
number is the foundation of morals and legislation" (echoing Cicero's "Salus populi suprema
est lex" - the good of the people is the chief law); and "Generally speaking there is no one
who knows what is for your interest so well as yourself and no one who is disposed with so
much ardour and constancy to pursue it".
Re-awakening of interest and concern for the Charity and Sunday schools (see 1698)
where, in addition to religious instruction, literacy and numeracy were taught. See 1785.
1782 Act for the Amendment of the Laws relating to the Settlement, Employment, and
Relief of the Poor (22 Geo.III, c.83) (Gilbert's Act) encouraged parish unions to build larger
workhouses with better management. Thomas Gilbert (1720-98, barrister and Poor Law
reformer) edited "Collection of Pamphlets concerning the Poor", 1787. However as R Porter
(English Society in the Eighteenth Century, Pelican, 1982) has commented "Bigger
workhouses just ran at bigger losses. Only a few hundred were founded. Their main 'success'
was custodial - they shunted paupers out of sight (for this reason locking people up was a
solution which went from strength to strength). Parishes floundered from expedient to
expedient. Supplementary relief would be tried and then abandoned for a spell in favour of a
house of correction or an experimental workhouse, followed by contracting out to
entrepreneurs, and then back to botched-up outdoor relief." See 1790.
Act for the Licensing Lottery Office Keepers, and Regulating the Sale of Lottery
Tickets (22 Geo.III, c.47).
Montrose Asylum, Scotland, established for the compassionate treatment of lunatics.
Severe influenza epidemic.
1783 Royal Society of Edinburgh founded.
1784 Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland incorporated.
"A Treatise on Diseases of Children", by M Underwood, laid the foundation of
paediatrics.
Samuel Greg (1758-1834) founded Quarry Bank Mill at Styal, near Wilmslow; in 1790
he built an apprentice house and later developed a village for his employees. See 1799.
First mail coach introduced, to run between London and Bristol. See 1825.
1785 Sunday School Union founded. See 1789 and 1811.
Digitalis first used in the treatment of heart disease.
1786 "A Treatise on the Venereal Disease" by John Hunter (see 1771) published.
His Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) founded
1788 Act for the Better Regulation of Chimney Sweepers and their Apprentices (28 Geo.III,
c.48) intended to alleviate "the misery of the said boys". Apprentices had to be at least 8 years
old; each sweeper was limited to six apprentices; and, justices of the peace were to decide