Devonshire hospital and Buxton Bath charity : instituted for the relief of poor persons from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland suffering from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and neuralgia ; pains, weakness or contractions of joints or limbs, arising from these diseases, or from sprains, fractures, or other local injuries ; chronic forms of paralysis ; dropped hands, and other poisonous effects of lead, mercury, or other minerals ; spinal affections ; dyspeptic complaints, uterine obstructions, etc. etc. ; supported by annual subscriptions and voluntary contributions : annual report for the year 1869 ; management, history, annual statement, accounts, meteorological report, rules and regulations, list of subscriptions and benefactions &c., and a copy of conveyance of hospital from the Duke of Devonshire to the trustees.

  • Devonshire Royal Hospital (Buxton, Derbyshire, England)
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Devonshire hospital and Buxton Bath charity : instituted for the relief of poor persons from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland suffering from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and neuralgia ; pains, weakness or contractions of joints or limbs, arising from these diseases, or from sprains, fractures, or other local injuries ; chronic forms of paralysis ; dropped hands, and other poisonous effects of lead, mercury, or other minerals ; spinal affections ; dyspeptic complaints, uterine obstructions, etc. etc. ; supported by annual subscriptions and voluntary contributions : annual report for the year 1869 ; management, history, annual statement, accounts, meteorological report, rules and regulations, list of subscriptions and benefactions &c., and a copy of conveyance of hospital from the Duke of Devonshire to the trustees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    PREFACE. The Buxton mineral water is discharged from several openings in very large quantities, at the temperature of 82 degrees, Farenheit. It is charged with nitrogen gas in, probably, a larger degree than any other mineral water; being estimated by Dr. Lyon Playfair to contain at the moment of issue no less than 206 cubic inches of nitrogen gas per gallon ; and by Dr. Sheridan Muspratt, the most recent analyst, to contain no less than 504 cubic inches per gallon. This gas is presented in water, which has, other- wise, alkaline, earthy, and saline properties, and is remarkably detergent and softening to the skin when used as a bath ; while it is free from odour or disagreeable taste, is clear and bright in its appearance, and of a singularly beautiful faintly blue colour. The medicinal action of the water, whether used as baths, or drank, has been from time immemorial known to be great in relieving or curing all con- ditions of a rheumatic or gouty character. It is stated by Dr. Jones, so long ago as in the year 1572, that it was then used for the relief of the same ailments as it is at the present time. Dr. Jones says, that, in his time, Buxton was much resorted to by poor afflicted persons ; and towards the end of the sixteenth century, this was con- sidered to be so serious an injury by the inhabitants of the adjoining chapelry of Fairfield as to render them unable to provide funds for the maintenance of their chaplain, by reason of the urgent and continual claims of the many poor sufferers resorting to the Buxton Baths, as set forth in a petition on this matter addressed by them to Queen Elizabeth. These poor persons had been from time immemorial so far aided, as to have had gratuitous baths of the mineral water provided for them: and there seems to have been a fund called the Treasury of the Bath, by which their pecuniary necessities were more or less ministered to. Dr. Jones writes, in reference to this fund, what may be quoted in this place; If any think this magisterial imposing on people's pockets, let them consider their abilities and the sick poor's necessities, and think whether they do not in idle pastimes throw away in vain twice as much yearly; it may entail the blessings of them who are ready to perish upon you, and will afford a pleasant after reflection. God has given you physic for nothing; let the poor and afflicted (it may be mem- bers of Christ) have a little of your money,—it may be the better for your own health : Heaven might have put them in your room and you in theirs ; then a supply would have been acceptable to you.