Publications | Down Survey | 1999 Issue Contents

From the cradle to the grave
Madeleine McAllister & M Lesley Simpson

The National Health Service was established in 1948. To commemorate its 50th anniversary in 1998 Down County Museum held a small exhibition to display specimens relating to medicine from our collection. This article stems from that exhibition. It is not intended to be a history of medicine in County Down, or even a imal or definitive study of the specimens in our collection, but rather to give an indication of what we have, and also what could usefully be added to the collection.

The fight against sickness and disease made great advances in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Alongside great medical discoveries like vaccination and penicillin, the role of hygiene, nutrition and proper nursing was realised. Early public health notices and vaccination certificates demonstrate such developments. Discoveries in the fields of physics and chemistry, such as X-rays, were soon applied to medicine, and the Down County Infirmary (now the Downe Hospital) in Downpatrick was at the forefront of many of these developments. The irony that many medical discoveries were developed to treat the casualties of war was true then, as now. Despite the advances, diseases like tuberculosis, diphtheria and polio remained common and difficult to treat, while even simple surgery was difficult, painful, and often fatal.

The cost of medical care meant that it was not available to all those who needed it. To save the cost of a doctor's visit and the medicines he prescribed, patent medicines and other remedies were often bought, some examples of which can be seen in our collection. As today, some could be bought from a chemist, while others were obtained by mail order. These were not always as effective as they proclaimed themselves to be. People were equally reluctant to go into hospital, so the sick were often nursed at home, using the kind of equipment included in our collection.

A review of health and medical services during World War II highlighted the need for a comprehensive, free, national health service. By this stage, some hospitals were on the verge of bankruptcy while other, municipal, hospitals were perceived as an extension of the Victorian workhouse system, with inadequate facilities. After some opposition, since it was viewed by many as dangerously radical, the National Health Service started in July 1948. It was particularly welcomed by women, especially mothers, as it provided medical checks in pregnancy and childhood, and even supplied codliver oil, orange juice and dried milk at 'baby clinics'. The provisions for eye care and dentistry were equally important. Fifty years on, the National Health Service has seen many changes, some of which are documented in our collection, through specimens and photographs.

We would particularly like to acquire more specimens and photographs from parts of County Down other than Downpatrick. Please contact us if you think you can help.

Catalogue

Home Treatments
Leather bound book: Primitive Physic: or an easy and natural method of curing most diseases by the Rev John Wesley, 25th edition, Dublin, 1802.
165 x 102 mm. DCM1986-196
First published in 1747 in London. Some of these remedies may seem very odd today, but advice on diet, exercise and hygiene is surprisingly modern.
Gift of Mrs Elizabeth Fleming, Downpatrick.

Recipe book: The Hay System Menu Book by Doris M L Grant, 1937. DCM2000-17
This diet has recently come back into fashion.
Calendar for 1937, with information about, and recipes for, the Hay Diet.
DCM2000-18 Catalogue: Towards Better Health, published by the London Health Centre, no date. but probably 1930s. DCM2000-20
Gifts of Miss C M Wallace, Myra Castle, Strangford.

Two sheets of wrapping paper, printed with advertisement for Beecham's Pills, Shields' Medical Hall, Irish Street, Downpatrick. DCM1988-84/1-2 Shields was based in Market Street, in the late nineteenth century, later moving to Irish Street.
Gift of Mr Desmond Fitzpatrick, Downpatrick

Invalid feeding cup, white ceramic with gilding. DCM 1994-199
Gift of Mr Hugh Maxwell, Downpatrick.

Ceramic bucket, with lid and basket woven handle. DCM 1998-118
Used as a slop bucket by the donor's family at Ballyhalbert, Co Down, about the time of the First World War, when tuberculosis was endemic.
Gift of Mrs Cynthia Douglas, Bryansford.

White ceramic bedpan, 'Original Perfection bed and douche pan'. British patent 9583.
DCM2000-52 Gift of Mr Gerald and Mrs Cynthia Douglas, Bryansford.

White ceramic bedpan, 'The New Slipper Bedpan'. DCM 1999-454
Gift of Mr Francis and Mrs Patricia Dornan, Newcastle.
White enamelled metal bedpan, with lid. DCM 1998-99 Gift of Mr and Mrs Gerard McShane, Ballyculter, Downpatrick.

Medical appliance, metal instrument with wooden handles, 'Macaura's Pulsocon' patent massager Patent no 13932. In its original card box and with instruction book. DCM 1994-357

According to the instruction book, the 'Pulsocon' cured illnesses like rheumatism, gout and deafness. Made in the early years of this century.
Gift of Ms J Girvin, Ballynahinch.

Medical appliance, white ceramic vessel with glass tube and cork stopper 'Maw's Inhaler'. DCM1994-200
Gift of Mr Hugh Maxwell, Downpatrick.

Medical appliance, glass instrument in original card box, 'Maw's Improved Ear Syringe'. DCM1999-382 Medical appliance, glass instrument in original card box, 'The Regnas Aseptic Nasal Douche'. DCM1999-383 Gift of Mrs Florence Aubrey, Newcastle.

Medical appliance, inhaling mask in unmarked card box, and green glass bottle, with cork stopper, labelled 'The drops for inhalers'. This label printed with the name of Shields' Medical Hall, Irish Street, Downpatrick and dated 1893. DCM1994-352/1-2
Gift of Miss Mary and Miss Eithne Croskery, Ballystokes, Downpatrick.

Medical appliance, glass electrodes in wooden box, 'Vitalator'. DCM1986-395
The glass electrodes were used with electricity for medical and beauty treatments.
Medical appliance, electric heat lamp, in black leather case, 'Healaray'. DCM1986-394
Used to cure skin and muscle problems. Gifts of Miss Liz Williams, Ardglass.

Green glass bottle, with cork stopper, labelled 'Tincture of Iodine', supplied by W B Mullin, Chemist, Crossgar. DCM 1994-334
Clear glass bottle with metal cap, labelled 'Sloan's Liniment'.

Used externally as a pain killer. DCM 1994-335
Glass tube, in original card box, printed 'De Witts Kidney and Bladder Pills'. DCM1994-336
Gifts of Mr James Greer, Crossgar.

Clear glass bottle, embossed 'Ruby Remedy that cures'; measures for teaspoonfuls marked down . side. DCM1994-339
Gift of Mr and Mrs J Pringle, Inch, Downpatrick.

Clear glass medicine bottle, embossed 'Roden Johnston, Chemist, Downpatrick'. DCM1983-16
Johnstons shop was on the ground floor of the Town Hall, Irish Street.
Clear glass medicine bottle, embossed 'Johnston, Chemist, Downpatrick'. DCM1983-17
Gifts of Mr Desmond Fitzpatrick, Downpatrick.

Clear glass bottle, embossed 'Donovan's Medical Hall'. DCM 1983-40
Gift of Mr Frank J Maxwell, Downpatrick.

Clear glass bottle, embossed 'Shields' Medical Hall, Downpatrick'. DCM1983-78
Gift of Miss Hester Clements, Downpatrick.

Three sachets in original card box, printed 'The Victory Powders'. DCM1994--356
These were to be taken for neuralgia, headache and rheumatism.
Gift of Mrs Verna Hassett, Downpatrick.

Bakelite plastic pill box marked 'Phyllosan'. DCM1997809
These pills were advertised at the time as 'fortifying the over-forties' !
Gift of Mrs Dolly Scott, Belfast.

Public health and professional medicine, to 1948

Two pencil drawings by Carmelita Rogers.
1. Down County Infirmary, Saul Street, Downpatrick. 280 x 380 mm. DCM1986-321/4
Down County Infirmary was established in a house on this site in October 1767, and remained here for seven years until it was moved to Barrack Lane (now Fountain Street).

2. Saul Terrace, Fountain Street, Downpatrick. 280 x 380 mm. DCM1986-321/5
This seventeenth century building, the former Horse Barracks, was purchased in 1774 for £150 for use as the Infirmary. It was used until the new Infirmary (now the Downe Hospital) was opened in 1834. It was reused as housing, Saul Terrace, and was demolished in the 1970s. Purchase

Two booklets.
1. The Bi-Centenary of the Down County Infirmary, 1767-1967. (Downpatrick Hospital Management Committee)
2. The Centenary of the Downshire Hospital', 18691969. (Downpatrick Hospital Management Committee) Gift of the McNeill Family.

Collection of letters and other documents relating to the Down County Infirmary Appeal Fund, 1928-29. DCM 1989-30
Gift of Mr John D A. Robb, Badlymoney, County Antrim.

Metal seal, with keys, in card box (probably original), of Downpatrick Hospital Management Committee. With associated letters dating to 1849. DCM 1994-328
Used for applying an official seal to documents. Booklet: Rules and Regulations for the Management of' the Down District Lunatic Asydum, 1899. DCM2000-53 Booklet: Special Regulations respecting the Management of Down Mental Hospital, following the Mental Treatment Act (Northern Ireland) 1932 and Mental Treatment Regulations (NI) 1934. DCM2000-54 Booklet: Souvenir of the visit of their Graces the Governor of Northern Ireland and the Duchess of Abercorn to open new sections of Down County Mental Hospital, 1932. DCM2000-55
Book of certificates of service granted to employees of Down District Lunatic Asylum, covering the years 1908 to 1941. DCM2000-56
Twenty-third report on the District, Criminal and Private Lunatic Asylums in Iredand, Dublin, 1874. DCM2000-57 Manuscript document, 'Estimate for additions to Down Lunatic Asylum, to accommodate 120 patients, 1881. Architect H Smyth, Downpatrick.' DCM2000-58
Gifts from the Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick.

Architect's drawing of Down Lunatic Asylum, signed 'Henry Smyth', January 1883.
DCM1987-106 Gift of Mr D Curran, Downpatrick.

Printed notice, published by Downpatrick Rural District Council, 1900, to explain sections of the Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878, relating to the spread of infectious disease. DCM1990-22/1
Provenance: Down District Council.

Smallpox was a highly infectious and often fatal disease, which was eventually controlled by the compulsory vaccination of infants. Parents were given a certificate to show that their child had been vaccinated, and were fined if they didn't have it done. By 1948 there were so few cases of smallpox in the United Kingdom that compulsory vaccination for this disease was ended. Smallpox vaccination has been so successful that the disease was eradicated from the world in 1977.
Gift of Mr Patrick Toman, Loughinisland

Printed form, filled in by hand, vaccination certificate, dated 1885. DCM 1994-340
Gift of Mr V McCullough, Derry and Mrs NArcher, Belfast.

Printed certificate, degree in medical obstetrics awarded to Thomas Cromie, from the Royal University of Ireland, 1885. DCM1987-115/1
Printed form, filled in by hand, certifying entry of Thomas Cromie in the Medical register of Ireland, 1882. DCM 1987-115/4
Printed certificate awarded to John Herbert (Jack) Jordan from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1914. DCM 1994-324
Printed certificate awarded to John Herbert Jordan by the Royal College of Physicians of .London, in 1914. DCM 1994-325
Printed diploma in Public Health awarded to John Herbert Jordan by the Royal College of Physicians of London and Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1920. DCM 1994-326
Printed military commission to John Herbert Jordan in the Army Medical Corps, 1915. DCM 1994-323
Several members of the Cromie family of Clough, were
doctors, including Alexander Cromie (1800-1847), his bother Robert (dates unknown) and Robert's son Thomas (1860-1935). Jack Jordan was the grandson of Robert, through Robert's daughter Annie (1850-1939). Annie was married to a distinguished diplomat, Sir John Newell Jordan (1852-1925).
Gift from the estate of Walrond Clarke of Clough.

Medical thesis. The Operative Treatment of Un-united Fractures Following Gunshot Wounds, submitted by John Charles Robb, for his Master of Surgery degree at the Queen's University of Belfast in 1922. DCM 1994358/1
The patients were soldiers who had been injured during World War I. X-rays had been discovered only 27 years earlier, in 1895, and this demonstrates pioneering work in that area.
Medical thesis, Syphylitic Aortitis viewed from a clinical standpoint, submitted by John Charles Robb for his MD degree at the Queen's University of Belfast. DCM1994358/2
Mr. Robb, the donor's father, was later surgeon at the Down Infirmary, which was the first hospital in the province outside Belfast to have X-ray equipment.
Gift of Mr John D A Robb, Ballymoney, County Antrim.

Five card bound registers of medical and first aid equipment and protective clothing issued to wardens of First Aid posts in County Down during World War II. DCM1994-327/1-5
Provenance: Down District Council.

Boxed set of four gold and five silver medals awarded to Alexander Leslie Gracey of Ballyhosset, County Down, from the University of Edinburgh, 1850s. Alexander Gracey worked as a doctor in the Crimean War. DCM1985-129/1-9

Boxed set of surgical instruments (DCMI98S-S9).

Boxed set of medical instruments, inset plate inscribed 'University of Edinburgh, Class of Military Surgery, 1852-58'. DCM1985-59
These also belonged to Alexander Gracey. Gift of Sir John and Lady Anderson, London.

Commemorative medal, white metal. Obverse: profile half length portrait entitled 'Florence Nightingale'. Reverse: 'As a mark of esteem and gratitude for her
devotion to the Queen's brave soldiers'. In a leather bag. Medal 4 cms diam. DCM1995-89
This medal was issued in the mid nineteenth century to honour the work of Florence Nightingale and her nurses among the sick and wounded soldiers of the Crimean War.
Gift of Mrs Joan Meneely, Newcastle.

Prize medal, electrotype, Carmichael School of Anatomy, Medicine and Surgery, Carmichael Premium.medal. 3.8 cms diam. DCM1985-32
This was awarded to John K. Maconchy, FRSCI, surgeon in Down County Infirmary from 1858 to 1892. He was the first Irish surgeon to perform operations under chloroform anaesthesia and in aseptic conditions.
Gift of Mr George Flinn, Downpatrick.

The Carmichael Medal. Actual diameter 38 mm (DCMI9BS-32).

Uniform jacket, Royal Army Medical Corps, First World War. DCM 1994-330
This belonged to Dr W W Glenny, who, after the war became a general practitioner in Warrenpoint. He died c 1947.
Gift of Mr and Mrs J B Pyper, Belfast.

Doctor's bag, brown canvas, containing a selection of bandages and medication. DCM1994-341/1-9
The date '1940' is stamped inside the bag. It belonged to the donor's father, Dr John Ritchie of Downpatrick.
Gift of Mrs Hilary Milligan, Ardglass.

Laennes stethoscope, made from wood and ivory. Length 180 mm. DCM1985-162
Gift of Dr R. Dougal, Downpatrick.

Glass phial, in leather box, and syringe. DCM1993-323 and 1993-336
The little glass phial is a minim measure, used to measure out medicine and drugs.
Gift of Miss Cecily D Parkinson-Cumine, Killough.

Brass button, 'Downpatrick Lunatic Asylum'. 15 mm
diam. DCM 1985-6
From the uniform of a warder.
Gift of Mr Terence Bowman, Newcastle.

Tin of anti-gas ointment, no 2, containing eight tubes World War I. Tin 108 x 78 x 16 mm. DCM2000-60 Gift of Mr D Maguire, Belfast.

Small tin of 'Remedy for Poisonous Gas', containing four capsules. World War I. Tin 50 x 35 x 15 mm. DCM 1993-331
Gift of Miss Cecily D Parkinson-Cumine, Killough.

Hearing aids, comprising two black leather boxes with carrying handles. One box has earpieces attached; both have volume regulators. Marked 'Belclere'. 159 x 81 x 100 mm and 137 x 85 x 100 mm. DCM1994-355 These bulky instruments were used by the donor's sister
earlier this century.
Gift of Miss Catherine M Wallace, Strangford.

The National Health Service
Leaflet: 'The Beveridge Report in Brief . DCM 1996-207 This is a shortened version of the Beveridge Report on social and health insurance, 1942, which led to the establishment of the Welfare State and the National
Health Service.
Gift of Mrs Mary Clint, Downpatrick.

Leaflet: 'The New Health Service', 1948. DCM 1996-202
This booklet explains how the new Health Service would work when it began on 5 July 1948. It was intended that there would be 'no fees or charges'.
Gift of Mr G Curran, Carryduff.

Printed notice: charges for medicine and appliances, issued by the Northern Ireland General Health Services Board, 1957. DCM1994-346
Within a few years of the establishment of the National Health Service, it was realised that charges would have to be made for some items. A charge of one shilling (5 pence in post decimal currency) was to be made towards each separate type of medicine or appliance. Copies of this notice were displayed in doctors' surgeries and chemists' shops.
Gift of Mr R Porter, Ballee, Downpatrick.

Equipment from Killough Health Clinic, including bottles, test tubes and test paper in stand, enamel bowls, basins, jug, spirit burners and foetal stethoscope. DCM 1993/ 175-192 and 218
Gift of Eastern Health and Social Services Board.

Equipment from Downpatrick Health Clinic, including sterilising trays, syringes, needles, scissor clamps, callipers and hot air steriliser. DCM1993/470-481
The syringes were used to give diphtheria and BCG inoculations.
Gift of Eastern Health and Social Services Board, per Dr Patrick Moore, Downpatrick.

Balance scales, with weights, for weighing babies. DCM 1999-455
These scales were used in Portaferry Clinic for over 40
years. Gift of Nurse R. McNamara, Portaferry.

Incubator, steel, for babies. 870 x 390 x 860 mm. DCM 1986-458
Gift from the Downshire Hospital.

Hemmed linen cloth, with the names of patients and staff of the Downshire Hospital (formerly called the Lunatic Asylum and the Mental Hospital), embroidered and written on it. It bears the dates 1869-1969, marking the centenary of the Downshire Hospital. 1.26 x 1.3 m. DCM2000-59
Gift of the Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick.

British Red Cross Nursing Manual No 2, 1914. DCM 1994-329
Gift of Mr and Mrs J Lister, East Farleigh, Kent.

Uniform, female, British Red Cross Society. Comprising coat, dress, apron and cap with medals, cap badge and other insignia of the Belfast branch of the Red Cross. DCM1994-337/1-6 and 353
Worn by the donor in the 1950s.
Gift of Mrs Joan Rountree, Ballygowan.

Apron and headdress, St John Ambulance Association. DCM 1994-338/1-2
Gift of Mr A Clough, Bangor.

Apron, British Red Cross Society uniform.
This originally belonged to Miss Maud Adelaide Bell of Bangor. DCM2000-1
Gift of Mrs Jean Allen Carleton, Bangor.

Badge, white metal, St John Ambulance Association. 34 mm diam. DCM1994-348
Gift of Mr J D and Mrs Betty McCord, Ardglass.

Two First Aid bandages. Triangular bandages printed with diagrams of bandages and splints. One is in English from the St. John Ambulance Association; the other is in German. DCM 1994-351 / 1-2
Gift of Mrs Joan Meneely, Newcastle.

Printed certificate, presented by the Joint Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St John of Jerusalem in England to Robert Cromie Jordan, for service during World War I. DCM1994-322
Gift from the estate of Walrond Clarke of Clough.

Oil painting by Lydia de Burgh, ARUA, UWS, of John Charles Robb.
73 x 60 cms. DCM 1993-399
John Charles Robb was surgeon at the Down County Infirmary from 1926 - 1957. This painting was commissioned from the artist to present to him on his retirement. During his years at the hospital John Robb saw it through financial crisis in the 1920s, the building of the south-west wing in the 1930s, and finally its transfer to the National Health Service.
Gift of Mr John D A Robb, Ballymoney County Antrim.

Print of a pencil drawing by W Rothenstein. Portrait of John Herbert Jordan. 1932.
30 x 22 cms. DCM 1992-87
Gift from the estate of Walrond Clarke of Clough.

The Down County Museum Photographic Archive
In addition to the specimens listed above, there are a number of images relating to medicine in the museum's photographic archive. These include photographs of hospital buildings and staff. We are interested in acquiring further material from throughout County Down.

John Charles Robb, surgeon at Down County Infirmary 1926 - 1957. Portrait in oils by Lydia De Burgh. (DCM1993-399)