asylum work. One of the first acts for the better provision of the poor in Pennsylvania was passed in 1700, and repealed by the Queen in council in 1705. A year later the assembly directed that the justices of the peace should annually appoint two overseers of the poor for each township; and also that a levy of one penny a pound should be made upon all real and personal estate of citizens, and four shillings a head not otherwise ratified.*

In 1712, the common council ordered that a workhouse be hired for the employment of the poor, and the overseers were empowered to attend to this business. It is not certain that these directions were carried out. In 1713, however, the first almshouse was established, but it was strictly confined to the relief of the poor of the society of Friends. In 1717, the assembly passed an act authorizing the erection of a workhouse in Philadelphia, Chester and Bristol.

In 1729, in answer to a petition made to the assembly by the overseers of the poor and recommended by the city, one thousand pounds were loaned to the mayor and commonwealth for the purchase of ground and the erection of a building for the poor of the city. This money was received in 1720, and in 1721 or 1722, ground was bought from Aldran Allen for two hundred pounds; this was bounded by Third, Fourth, Spruce and Pine streets, referred to by Dr. Agnew as the "green meadows." The building was of brick and probably completed in 1731 or 1732. In it, besides an asylum for paupers, was established a hospital with accommodations for the sick and insane. From 1732 we can, therefore, properly date the history of the Philadelphia Hospital.

The immense growth of this hospital is well shown by reference to two facts. In 1767, according to Scharf and Westcott, 284 persons were admitted into the almshouse, and afterwards the number increased to 368. December 31, 1889, by the report of Mr. Robert Laughlin, president of the board of charities and correction, the entire population of the almshouse, including the hospital, insane department, men's and women's outwards, and the children's asylum, was 3,207. In 1888, according to the report of the chief druggist, 110,875 prescriptions were filled, a number, as remarked by Dr. J. W. White, then president of the board, probably greater than the business of any ten of the largest drug stores in the city. In 1889, the number of

prescriptions compounded was 101,539. Large as is this apparent increase, however, it is not great in proportion to the increase in the population of the city.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND LITERATURE OF THE PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL.

With the exception of the medical history of Dr. Agnew no extended account of the Philadelphia Almshouse has been published; but facts with reference to it may be found in various volumes which deal with the local, medical; legal and official history of Philadelphia. We will give here a list of works, and a statement of some sources of information, which have proved of advantage to us and may to others.

LECTURE ON THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE PHILADELPHIA ALMSHOUSE. Delivered at the opening of the Clinical Lectures, October 15, 1862. By D. Hayes Agnew, M.D. Philadelphia: Holland & Edgar, printers, 54 North Eighth street, 1862.

A HISTORY OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. By Joseph Carson, M. D. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1889. In this well-known work of Dr. Carson the references to the Philadelphia Hospital are taken chiefly from Dr. Agnew's pamphlet, but a few additional facts of interest are mentioned.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE TO THE CLINICAL COURSE OF THE PHILADELPHIA HOSPITAL FOR THE WINTER OF 1855-56. By Robert K. Smith, M.D. Published in pamphlet form. Philadelphia, 1855.

SUMMER MEDICAL TEACHING IN PHILADELPHIA. An introductory lecture, delivered before his class in pharmacy, April 13, 1857. By Edward Parrish, M.D. THE PICTURE OF PHILADELPHIA. Giving an account of its origin, increase, improvement, etc. With a compendium of the societies, police, institutions, etc. By James Mease. Philadelphia, 1811.

PICTURE OF PHILADELPHIA.

Or a brief account of the various institutions

and public objects in this metropolis. Being a guide for strangers. With addenda of all the improvements to the present time. E. L. Cary and A. Hart, 1835. ANNALS OF PHILADELPHIA AND PENNSYLVANIA IN THE OLDEN TIME. In two volumes. By John F. Watson. Philadelphia, 1857.

HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

Scharf and Thompson Westcott.

1609 to 1884. In three volumes. By J. Thomas Philadelphia, 1884.

A HISTORY OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT. Philadelphia, 1681-1887. Edward P. Allison and Boies Penrose. Baltimore and Philadelphia, 1887.

By

In the Philadelphia Library are eight volumes of POULSON'S NEWSPAPER CUTTINGS, search of which will reveal some notes relating to the almshouse and hospital.

Rev. C. F. Pearson, who, ripe in years and good works, is still connected with the almshouse, published a volume in 1875, religious in tone, entitled, SPARKS AMONG THE ASHES. Including reminiscences of nineteen years of labor in the

Philadelphia Almshouse. With an introduction by Mrs. Dr. Bell. Some interesting reminiscences of Blockley characters are to be found in this volume.

Among other sources of information are the published Annual Statements or Reports of the board of guardians of the poor, and since 1887 the Annual Reports of the department of charities and correction. Bound volumes, from 1844 to 1854, are to be found in the Philadelphia library; and in the library of the Philadelphia Hospital from 1853 to 1883, the latter presented by a former president of the board of guardians, Mr. Edward F. Hoffman; also several bound volumes are to be found at the office of the bureau of correction, Harmony and Hudson streets.

At various periods, rules for the government of the board of guardians, of the medical board, and of the department of charities and correction have been published, and afford much information. Among these are the following: Rules for the Government of the Board of Guardians, 1828; Laws for the Relief and Employment of the Poor, 1844; Rules for the Guardians of the Poor, 1861; Rules for the Guardians of the Poor, 1868; Rules for the Medical Board, 1870; Rules for the Department of Charities and Correction, 1890.

In the preparation of historical notes and memoranda we have made use of these and also of the written minutes of the board of guardians of the poor, and of the bureau of charities, which, with much other material, have been placed at our disposal through the kindness of Mr. Robert Laughlin. To Mr. Robert C. Floyd, secretary of the bureau of charities, and to Mr. Edwin Palmer, secretary of the bureau of correction, we are under obligations for valuable information and documents. We have also consulted the written minutes of the medical board of the Philadelphia Hospital, which have been placed in our hands by the secretary, Dr. Louis W. Steinbach. At the almshouse are documents, minute books, records, etc., to which we have had access through the courtesy of Mr. George Roney, the superintendent, to whom great credit is due for the manner in which he has collated and arranged these archives of the almshouse, formerly in extreme confusion.

This is an appropriate place to say a word about the literature of the Philadelphia Hospital, or rather about the contributions of the members of its various medical boards to the literature of the profession. These constitute a large portion of the literature of Philadelphia medicine. It would be an interesting task to collect the contributions which owe their existence to work done within the walls of the Philadelphia Hospital. In the notes on the epidemics of the hospital, references are made to a few valuable contributions; as to the monograph on epidemic meningitis, by Dr. Alfred Stillé, to the paper on the same subject by Dr. W. H. H. Githens; and to that on puerperal septicemia as observed at the hospital, by Dr. W. H. Parish. On pathology the hospital has furnished contributions without number, and some of great value, particularly during the last fifteen years. The medical societies of Philadelphia-the college of physicians, the