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See MH 82/12
Catalogue reference: MH 82/49
Date: 1954 Sept 16-1956 Nov 15
See MH 82/12
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Folios 322-341. Report from Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to the...
Catalogue reference: MH 12/9359/193
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This record is about the Folios 322-341. Report from Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to the... dating from 21 July 1842 in the series Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and.... It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
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- MH 12/9359/193
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Date (When the record was created)
- 21 July 1842
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- Folios 322-341. Report from Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to the Poor Law Commission, enclosing copies of statements and references given on oath, also medical returns. Report on a complaint made by Messrs Alvery, Kendall, Brooks, Turner, Bramby and Cook ratepayers of the parish of Sutton in Ashfield in the Mansfield Poor Law Union, against J W Valantine, Medical Officer. A letter dated 23 May 1842, 6578/B/1842 was not received by Weale, until 21 June 1842 as it was improperly addressed. Weale contacted the complainants, Valantine and the board of guardians, fixing the 7 July 1842 for the purpose of an enquiry it being the day of the weekly meeting. Valantine is a Fellow of the London College of Medicine and prior to 1815 was a practicing Apothecary. Messrs Avery, Kendall and Brooks as well as Valantine attended. The complainants stated the following complaints: Neglect in the case of Sarah Witham wife of James Witham who died 29 January 1842. Neglect in the case of Mary Preece who died 20 March 1842. Neglect in the case of John Wilkinson, who is now ill. The complainants wanted to prefer other cases as far back as two years, but Weale suggested it was not fair to expect any officer to explain cases that had long passed, which was agreed with. Weale states that the complainants are all active members of the chartist body in Sutton in Ashfield but adds that they were 'respectful' throughout the investigation and expressed their thanks for the 'fair and inpartial manner in which [he] conducted the enquiry'. Weale encloses case reports, Mr Valantine's weekly returns and his register of sickness and mortality. Also enclosed are depositions that Mr Weale took, the resolution of the board of guardians and Mr Weale's own observations. Case of Sarah Witham. Statement made by Elizabeth Hunt, wife of Thomas Hunt, Framework Knitter of Sutton in Ashfield, and sister in law to Sarah Witham. When Sarah Witham was taken ill in January, Valantine sent her some medicine in powder form, one teaspoon was to be taken every four hours. Elizabeth Hunt believed that Valantine visited Sarah Witham before sending the powders. Sarah Witham was violently purged when Valantine visited and Hunt thought the medicine was to stop this. It is believed Valantine did not visit on the Wednesday. On Thursday Elizabeth Hunt saw Valantine and asked whether he had visited Sarah Witham and also asked what was wrong with her. Valantine said he had not visited but would do so and he told Elizabeth Hunt that Sarah Witham was suffering from a slight inflammation. It is believed Valantine visited that morning but did not leave any other medicine. When Hunt saw Sarah Witham she told her that she had not opened her bowels for three days and two nights and that she was feeling very ill. Elizabeth Hunt asked Thomas Hunt two or three times to go for Mr Valantine. When Thomas Hunt went Mr Valantine's son said he wasn't in but would tell him Mr Hunt had called when he came back. On Saturday Valantine visited Sarah Witham. He told her she was better and to take a glass of brandy. Sarah Witham did not take the brandy and continued worse all day. Elizabeth Hunt went for Valantine but he was out. Sarah Witham died between ten and eleven O'clock. Case of Sarah Witham, statement by Joseph Alvery, Framework Knitter. Within six weeks of Sarah Witham's death Joseph Alvery had a conversation with Valantine about her illness. Valantine told Alvery that he considered Sarah Witham's illness dangerous from when he was first called. Joseph Alvery asked if Valantine was in the habit of neglecting to attend patients that paid him, for a whole day. Valantine told Alvery he would not be dictated to by him. Joseph Alvery said he was not trying to dictate to Valantine but he did not consider that Sarah Witham had been treated in a proper manner. On cross examination Joseph Alvery did not recollect saying that Valantine was not a proper person to attend the poor. But he did say that if he had the power he would see Valantine dismissed from a situation that he considered he had disgraced. Joseph Alvery said he had no ill feeling towards Valantine and that he wasn't a relative of Sarah Witham but a neighbour. Alvery asked James Witham to attend the enquiry but he declined as he was receiving parochial relief and was under Mr Valantine's care at the time. Case of Sarah Witham, Mr Valantine's Defence. On Wednesday 26 January 1842, Valantine received an 'order' in the afternoon to visit Sarah, wife of James Witham, Frameworker aged 40 years. Sarah Witham had been suffering from purging and vomiting for nearly two days and nights. Sarah Witham could not account for her condition other than want of sufficient food. The family had long been deprived, but had not applied to the parish authorities or relieving officer of the district until the day Valantine was called to attend. Valantine found Sarah Witham's pulse was very feeble, intermitting and 130 per minute. She had much tenderness over the epigastrium. Valantine gave Sarah Witham a two gram pill of opium followed by the following powder in water every five hours. Of compound [Specacuanha] powder 3 gramms, Gum Tragacanth 10 gramms, Carbonate of Magnesia [8 gramms]. [Fomantations] and afterwards a large Sinapism over the part painful. Valantine remarked that the whole of frame of the patient was greatly [attenuated]. He stated the when the vomiting and purging seemed less frequent, he recommended broths. At one point he was unable to visit her owing to manifold engagements in addition to which a midwifery case interfered. The next time he saw her he found he fast sinking and ordered her some brandy and water in equal amounts. This was not done due to want of means. Valantine sent various mixtures, including opium, spirits of ammonia and camphor. Sarah Witham continued to sicken and died the same evening. Notes by Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner. Mr Weale notes that the complaint in the case is twofold. First that daily attendance wasn't given to the patient and secondly the mode of treatment. He points to a discrepancy as to the day the order to visit Sarah Witham was given. Weale states that Mr Valantine's account is more probable as he has documents to refer to and it will be for the [Commissioners] to judge whether Mr Valantine's explanation for the non attendance on 28 January 1842 is satisfactory. As to the mode of treatment, Valantine is surely the best judge. As Elizabeth Hunt was not in constant attendance her evidence, with regards to the medicine, is unsatisfactory. Weale feels the reason James Witham gave for not attending the enquiry is unsatisfactory as he could have given better evidence. Case of Mary Preece. In her statement Mary Peck of Sutton in Ashfield, wife of Francis Peck Framework Knitter and daughter of Mary Preece stated that Valantine attended Mary Preece on a Wednesday. This was the same day as Mary Peck's brother got an order for Valantine from Mr Twells. After visiting Mary Preece, Valantine sent her some medicine in powder form and attended every day but one that week. Valantine did not attend again for a fortnight to three weeks. During that time Mary Peck sent Dorothy Holdhouse for some more medicine. Mr Valantine's son said he was out but that Valantine would visit Mary Preece again before he gave anymore medicine. Valantine did not call. About a week after taking the message Dorothy Holdhouse saw Valantine passing Mary Preece's house and called him in. Valantine told Mary Preece she must keep her bowels open. She asked for some medicine for that purpose but Valantine told he to get some salts and ginger, she told Valantine that she had no money. Valantine did not reply. On the 19 March 1842 Mary Peck complained to [Mr Twells], the Relieving Officer that Valantine had only been to see her mother once for a fortnight to three weeks. Twells told Peck her mother had been struck off the sick list. She applied to Twells for another order, but was told she'd had one order and that Valantine had a right to attend every day. One her trying to get Valantine to call again Peck was told that Mary Preece had been struck off the list and that she must get another order. Peck explained that Twells said that Valantine could visit everyday from the order he had and she was eventually given some medicine. That evening Mary Preece asked if she could see another doctor and Mary Peck's brother fetched John Warmby, who is what they called a quack doctor. On seeing Mary Preece, Warmby said they should send for Valantine as he thought Mary Preece had an inflammation of the bowel and pleurisy and that if she did not have a dozen leaches on she would be dead in a few hours. Valantine came and gave Mary Preece a pill and she went to sleep. Mary Preece was found dead at 9 o'clock the next morning. Mary Peck said her mother had suffered from Asthma for many years. Mary Preece did not know if John Warmby was in any trade and did not know if he was a Framework Knitter. Case of Mary Preece, statement by Lancelot Twells, Relieving Officer. Twells states that Sutton in Ashfield is in his district and he remembers giving an order early in February 1842 for Valantine to attend Mary Preece. A short time before Preece's death Twells was told by Mary Peck that she was not satisfied with Mr Valantine's attendance. Twells did not remember whether Mary Peck had asked for another order. He saw Mary Peck when she went to collect her mother's relief. Mary Preece was on out relief from 4 February 1842 until her death. Twells knows John Warmby, he is commonly called a quack doctor but he is by trade a Framework Knitter. Case of Mary Preece, Mr Valetine's Defence. On reference to his prescription book Valantine stated that Mary Preece came on his list by order from the receiving officer on 2 February 1842. Valantine attended Preece until the 14 February 1842 inclusive, when he felt that she had been restored to her usual state of health. Valantine discontinued and omitted Mary Preece from the return list according to his regular plan. In the first week of March 1842, Valantine was passing Mary Preece's house when she called him in and told him she wasn't feeling well and could not get anything but dry bread and tea without sugar. Valantine recommended Mary Preece kept her bowels free which might be done with salts and ginger. As to her chronic disease he could not relieve. Mary Preece said she could not afford to buy the salts and ginger. Valantine told her to send down to his surgery and he would furnish her. Which he did. Valantine did not see Mary Preece again until 19 March 1842. On the evening of 19 March 1842 Valantine found Mary Preece in great pain in the region of the heart, she had been suffering from this for several hours, her pulse was irregular and counted be counted. Immediately Valantine gave Mary Preece a one gram pill of opium and directed that fomentations be used directly and sent the following powder to be taken three times a day. Mary Preece had taken this on previous occasions of ill health and had found great relief, Carbonate of Soda, Tataric Acid and Carbonate of Magnesia, Ipecacuanha Powder, Sulphate of Magnesia. The fomentations were never applied nor the medicine given. Mary died in four hours. Mary Preece had been subject to disease of the heart for twenty years and recently had been greatly distressed for want of food, living on tea (without milk and sugar) and bread for the last nine months. Robert Weale noted on referring to the weekly return of Valantine, Mary Preece was stated as 'convalescing' and in the register of sickness and mortality on 20 March 1842 she is returned as 'well'. From the deposition of Mary Peck it appears that Valantine considered Mary Preece as discharged from his care between 20 February 1842 and 19 March 1842. Case of John Wilkinson Cordwainer of Sutton in Ashfield. In his statement John Wilkinson said he had applied to Twells the Relieving Officer for an order for him to attend the medical officer. Twells told John Wilkinson to go to Valantine and tell him that he had sent him and he should give him some medicine if he wanted it. Valantine examined John Wilkinson and ordered his son to prepare some medicine for him, a powder and 14 pills. The following Wednesday John Wilkinson called on Valantine again. He told Valantine he had not coughed so much at night nor spit so much phlegm. He asked if he should have some more medicine. Valantine said no but that Wilkinson should get some linseed and put a tablespoon of it in a jug with a pint of boiling water and a little liquorice or 'Spanish Juice' and take that. On the Wednesday following Wilkinson again called on Valantine, and told him he was no worse but no better. On the afternoon John Wilkinson felt worse and he applied to Twells for a written order as the first one was verbal. Twells declined as he said Wilkinson was already on Mr Valantine's list and Valantine would give John Wilkinson some more medicine if he asked. On the following Saturday Wilkinson visited Valantine. He asked if John Wilkinson had continued with the linseed and liquorice, on being told that he had Valantine told him to continue with it. On the following Wednesday Wilkinson visited Valantine again and he examined him. In a not angry voice Valantine said that John Wilkinson wouldn't die yet. Wilkinson replied he hoped not. Valantine told John Wilkinson to continue with the linseed and liquorice. The following Wednesday John Wilkinson went to Valantine again complaining of a pain across his chest. Valantine said some thorn apple might be of service to him. John Wilkinson asked where he could get some and was told a druggist normally had it but he did not know if the one in Sutton in Ashfield did. As Wilkinson was leaving Mr Valantine's son called him back and gave him some thorn apple he had found. Wilkinson said he had never since applied to Mr Valantine. John Wilkinson consulted Mr Cooper [Medical Officer] and was given a prescription which he has not been able to get through lack of means. The linseed and liquorice cost 10d and Wilkinson thought that Valantine should have given it to him instead of directing him to purchase it. Case of John Wilkinson, Cordwainer, aged 56 years. Mr Valantine's Defence. Valantine stated that John Wilkinson had been a hard drinker in former days. On the 4 June 1842 he visited Valantine with an order from the relieving officer. Valantine examined John Wilkinson and found him under cough and with a thickness in breathing. Wilkinson took cold three months ago and had not been well since. His pulse was good and Valantine administered him various pills. By the 10 June Wilkinson has been better and was struck off the list. When he started to complain of some little pain shooting across his chest he was given [Shamomium] to smoke. For refusing a certificate complaint has been made of non attendance and want of remedies. Note by Robert Weale. The ground of the alleged complaint was that Valantine did not provide the linseed and liquorice. But Mr Weale observes that the real reason is stated by Mr Valantine. Extract from the 'Weekly Return Book' of J W Valantine, Medical Officer District Number 3, for weeks ending 27 January, 3 February, 10 February, 17 February, 2 June, 9 June 16 June 1842. Names listed James Witham's wife, aged 40, Cholera; Mary Preece, aged 58, Dyspepsia; John Wilkinson, aged 56, Pectorial affection. Extract from the 'Register of Sickness and Mortality'. Names listed James Witham's wife, Seamer; Mary Preece, Seamstress' John Wilkinson, Cordwainer. Gives the supposed cause of the disease. Reference in favour of Valantine from Reverend William Goodacre, incumbent of Sutton In Ashfield. He has also been guardian at different times for three years. Goodacre only knows of one instance when Valantine refused to attend and that was because he thought an order from the relieving officer had not been properly given. Goodacre does not know James Witham nor his wife but has heard that Sarah Witham's case has caused a great deal of excitement in Sutton in Ashfield. Whether this is rightly so, he cannot say. Reference from William Oates of Sutton in Ashfield, Farmer and Guardian of Sutton in Asfield. Valantine is medical attendant of William Oates and his family. Mr Oates has never heard of any complaint of Mr Valantine's inattention to the poor. He considers Valantine a gentleman of human disposition and is satisfied with his skill and ability in his profession. Reference from Charles Beastall of Sutton in Ashfield, Farmer and Guardian of Sutton in Ashfield. Valantine is the medical attendant of Charles Beastall and his family. Until this enquiry Charles Beastall had never heard any complaint against Valantine as medical attendant to the poor. Reference from Nathan Cooper of Mansfield, Surgeon and Apothecary and one of the Medical Officers of Mansfield Union. Nathan Cooper has known Valantine for eighteen years and has frequently met him in consultation. He considers him well skilled in his profession and seldom has occasion to differ materially with his opinion on his judgement or disease or of the treatment of surgical cases. Extracts from the minutes of the board of guardians taken 7 July 1842. Complaints by certain ratepayers of Sutton in Ashfield against Valantine Medical Officer of Sutton in Ashfield have been read again. Robert Weale Assistant Poor Law Commissioner proceeded in the presence of the complainants and the board to examine on oath the witnesses brought forward by the complainants, also the witnesses called by Mr Valantine. It was moved by [J Salmonds] seconded by W Beastall and unanimously resolved that the board was of an opinion that the conduct of Valantine as medical officer has been most satisfactory and that he has always acted with the greatest humanity and attention towards the poor under his charge. Memorandum - The complainants Joseph Alvery, George Kendall and Sampson Brookes again entered the boardroom to express to Robert Weale Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, their satisfaction with the kind, patient and impartial manner which he had conducted the enquiry into Mr Valantine's conduct, in the cases of Sarah Witham, Mary Preece and John Wilkinson. They thanked Mr Weale for conducting the enquiry and for his extreme courtesy and kindness shown towards them. Annotated: case 1. Valantine should have attended on the 28th. If he was unable to he should have provided a substitute. There is no blame in cases 2 and 3. Paper Number: 9651/B/1842. Poor Law Union Number 337. Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
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Folios 322-341. Report from Robert Weale, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to the...
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