Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/140

 turns, rendered useful service to the Dispensary. It would be invidious to single out any of these as being more capable, or more devoted to the work, than others; but we may mention one exceptional case, which all will recognize. From an early period medical pupils were allowed to visit the Dispensary, in order to study special cases, and the treatment they received from qualified practitioners. Among these was a young man, Mr. E. P. Charlesworth, who virtually here received the early part of his medical education. He afterwards, for some years, practised in Horncastle; and in Dec., 1807, a resolution of the Governors was passed, conveying to him their warm thanks for his generosity in relieving poor patients, often at his own expense, and for his readiness to receive them, for consultation, at his own residence, and to make up drugs for them at all hours. He subsequently removed to Lincoln, and became a noted physician, whose reputation extended considerably beyond



the county. During 33 years he was one of the most active medical advisers and patrons of the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum; and, after his death in 1853, a statue of him, in white marble, was erected in the grounds of that institution.

All these medical attendants at the Dispensary gave their services gratiuitously until, at a general meeting, held on April 23rd, 1878, a resolution was passed, that henceforth the two doctors should each be paid £30 a year, which has been the rule ever since. At that date the late Dr. A. E. Boulton resigned, and Mr. Robert Jalland and Dr. Haddon were the first to receive this well-merited remuneration, attending to their duties in alternate months.

Scattered about the minute books of the institution are various notes, of some interest, from which we here give a selection. On Feb. 23rd, 1790, the Rev. John Fretwell, "sensible of the distresses of the sick poor, gave one and a half guineas from the communion money, to be laid out in salop sago and