The practice of surgery in Leeds 1823-1824.

THIS PAPER is based on a leather-bound manuscript notebook found in the cellars of the Leeds Medical School a few years ago. It commences on 20 March 1823. No author's name is given but it would seem to be the notes of an apothecary. As Richard Farrer of Leeds was assistant apothecary at the General Infirmary at Leeds from March 1823 to July 1825, it seems probable that he wrote it. Farrer became locum apothecary from November 1824 for an uncertain period (while J. C. Cooper attended lectures in London) and apothecary from June 1826 to August 1829 when he resigned on account of illness. He qualified M.R.C.S. Eng., and L.S.A. in 1826.1 The General Infirmary at Leeds had been founded in 1767 and was the only hospital in the town. Leeds was a prosperous place, being a centre for the wool and cloth trade, and the market for the products of spinning, dyeing, and weaving carried on in the outlying hill towns. This profitable trade came to Leeds because the river Aire had been made navigable to the town just before the close of the seventeenth century, and seventy years later was joined by a cut to the Ouse at Selby whence merchandise could be sent on to Hull for export. There were also flax spinning, dyeing, leather tanning and shoe-making, silk spinning and weaving, coal mining, engineering and iron foundries, and the manufacture of pottery and glass. As a result, the population of Leeds and its inner parishes increased from about 17,000 in 1775 to 82,000 in 1838. However, the population served by the General Infirmary cannot be readily estimated. The notebook gives the place of origin of each patient (see Appendix 1) and it will be seen that many came from outlying parts. Three surgeons are mentioned in the notebook: Thomas Chorley (dates of birth and death uncertain), surgeon to the Ifirmary 1794 to 1833; William Hey the second (1772-1844), surgeon 1812 to 1830; and Samuel Smith (1790-1867), surgeon 1819 to 1864. It should be mentioned here that one of the rules of the Infirmary, laid down in 1767 and still in force in 1823, stated: "That no Amputation or other great Operation, except an urgent Occasion require it, be performed, without a previous Consultation of the Physicians and Surgeons; and no one shall be admitted to see the Practice of the House without their Consent."2 The notebook consists of four sections: first, a list of operations carried out between March 1823 and August 1824 which is shown in Appendix II and is, judging