16 Parish Midwife
 

16      Extract from an account of the mode of supplying a country parish with a midwife. by Rev Mr Dolling, late Vicar of Aldenham, Herts. pp 126-128 Dated 6th Aug 1797.

Fifteen years ago, there being then no midwife living in the parish of Aldenham, I selected a poor widow, who had three children supported by the parish, and sent her up, for instruction, to the Lying-in Hospital in Store Street, near Tottenham Court Road where Dr Osborn permitted her to continue for three months, at a very small expence. Though without any preparatory education, she returned so well instructed, as to exercise her calling in the parish ever since, without a single accident, or ever having occasion to call in medical assistance. She has been enabled thereby to support herself and her children comfortably; and is now living, in the enjoyment of the confidence due to her skill. She attends all the day-labourers wives, at the stipulated sum of half-a-crown.

The expence of her instruction and setting-up, was collected in the parish by subscription; part of which paid for her board in the hospital; and the rest of the money was applied for her journey and incidental expences. - She has been the cause of a considerable saving in the medical bills of the parish, besides being a very great comfort and relief to the poor.

Observations
The expence and trouble of the above was trifling; its benefit, both to the poor and the parish, considerable; whenever therefore a parish is distant from medical aid, and unprovided with a midwife of its own, the above may be recommended to its consideration 
Dated 6th Aug 1797        

Source:
The Reports of the Society for Bettering the Condition and Increasing the Comforts of the Poor. Vol 1 1798 446 pp
Submitted by Alan Longbottom

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