by Peter Morrell
DISPENSARIES
Contemporary with the establishment and
growth of homeopathy in Britain after the 1830s there sprang up peripheral aspects like
chemists, dispensaries, publishers and societies. These became crucial elements of the
movement as a whole. Homeopaths often had difficulty finding a publisher who would print
their ‘unorthodox’ work. If printers won’t print what you have to say and chemists will not
stock the ‘tools of your trade’ then how are you to be heard, consulted or used by the
public? Such problems have occurred wherever homeopathy has established itself.There is considerable potential for further
research in this area, especially exploring the ‘penny herbal stores’ in many towns and
cities throughout Britain [especially in the North] in the 1860-1940 period, even extending
into the 60s in many towns. For example, researching the UK homeopathic chemists and
publishers has not yet been undertaken. Also it would be interesting to see what links there
are with the homeopathic movement, especially the sale of homeopathic remedies and first-aid
kits through the same outlets. Finally, an interesting study would be to compile histories
of the manufacturing chemists, both herbal and homeopathic. Throughout Britain in 1900 they
were quite numerous, but most have gone since the 1950s [see, for example, Anon, 1963; Cope,
1969; Hanston, 1963 and Rosenberg, 1959].
A SHORT HISTORY OF BRITISH DISPENSARIES
Dispensaries were very common in the last
century, though the earliest were founded in the eighteenth century. The first to be
established appears to have been in Lancaster in 1730. Dispensaries were often termed Public
Dispensaries or Provident Dispensaries and this reflects their intended primary use for the
sick poor.A Dispensary was often defined as a place
where the dispensing of medicines took place, especially to the poor and especially free of
charge. Dispensaries were generally funded by charitable trusts composed of local
dignitaries and run by a committee of the same. They were also dual-purpose institutions,
providing mainly for the storage, preparation and dispensing of medicines, but also
providing [usually free] medical treatment. They thus very often employed both a Dispenser
and a Physician. In most cases they also took on the further function of having a nurse in
attendance and of having a small number of beds, though they were usually only open on a
part-time basis, at certain times and on certain days of the week. This information also
appeared on a plaque on the wall outside and in advertisements. Many were also used for the
dressing of wounds, the extraction of teeth and minor surgery, especially for the ears and
eyes [see Medical Directories which detail this type of information]. Many of the
dispensaries specialised in certain types of treatment. Examples include Ear and Eye
Dispensaries [e.g. Shrewsbury, Bristol Eye, Royal Dispensary for Ears, London, Dublin Eye
& Ear], those for skin diseases [e.g. Western Skin, London, Glasgow Skin], and those for
Women and Children [e.g. Manchester Children’s; Cheltenham Women’s & Children’s].In a certain sense, therefore, many
dispensaries were the natural forerunners of the Hospitals and Infirmaries which followed
them and which are now such a familiar aspect of modern health-care. Indeed, as we shall
see, many Dispensaries were converted into Cottage Hospitals during the first half of this
century.dispensaries were most common in the
English Provinces and in London, less so in Scotland and Wales, and were very rare in
Ireland. Most English towns and cities had their own dispensaries by the 1860s and many also
had hospitals or infirmaries as well. In most cases they became hospitals.
