The Policy of the English Poor Law and Its Proposed Medical Reform

Abstract

WHEN I accepted the invitation to give an address on this subject, it was with some diffidence that I approached the duty I had undertaken. I saw at the outset that it was impossible in the time at my disposal to do more than deal with some of the important questions that the proposed reforms give rise to, and I trust, therefore, the members of this Society will pardon my shortcomings in attempting to treat of so great and important a subject in the time permitted at your meetings. I can only hope to put before you some of the views that have occurred to me after a careful consideration of the many points at issue-views which, I believe, are held by other Poor Law reformers, and which at least have the merit of being the result of long experience in practical Poor Law work, accompanied by a fair acquaintance with the general literature of the subject. As the Society I have the honour of addressing is not only a medical society, but claims likewise to represent a section of the sister profession of the law, I trust I shall be excused if I give some attention to legal points in my remarks; perhaps more than is customary where the hearers are composed of medical practitioners only. In my opinion the legal aspect of the subject we are dealing with is fully as important as the medical, for the