Henry Lilley Smith
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Henry Lilley Smith MRCS | |
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Born | 1787 or 1788 |
Died | 1859 |
Occupation | Surgeon |
Henry Lilley Smith was born in
In 1823, fired by his ambition to improve medical care for the poor, he established a self-supporting dispensary in Southam under the presidency of Sir Grey Skipwith, MP for South Warwickshire, and his committee. The premises consisted of a two-storied thatched cottage, sited close to the Infirmary. Membership was for Southam residents who could not afford to pay doctor's fees. Patients had to be recommended by employers, clergymen of their parish or by two respectable inhabitants. The annual subscription was 3 shillings and 6d for adults and 2s for children. The dispensary was self-supporting but during the cholera epidemic of 1832 each family had to pay an additional 6d a week.[1]
The Southam Dispensary was the first of its kind and its success resulted in the establishment of others in
He also initiated a 'Maypole Holiday' in 1825 which is still held as the 'May Fair' in Southam today (2012) and provided allotments for local boys aged between 8 and 14. Each boy was required to grow some flowers, herbs and at least 6 kinds of vegetable. A small rent was charged and a small library for them was provided.
Smith died in 1859 in Southam, where, on Leamington Road, there is a memorial to his life and work close to the site of his dispensary, which was demolished in 1868. The memorial, erected in 1889,[2] is to be found next to his hospital building which is now enlarged and used as a wedding venue called Warwick House.
References
- ^ a b c [full citation needed] Cyriax M.R.C.S. D.P.H., Richard J. (18 July 1936). "???". The British Medical Journal: 141, 142.
- ISBN 9780853238478.