LAWS, ORDERS, and REGULATIONS, 
OF THE 
EDINBURGH GENERAL LYING-IN HOSPITAL. 
To the PUBLIC. 
Those who are engaged in the practice of Midwifery 
have often occasion to see large families of children suddenly 
deprived of a mother, by whose vigilant care they were ac- 
customed to be protected from those accidents to which in- 
fancy is exposed, by the want of that management during 
child-bearing which opulence can procure. 
It is well known also, that women in low life are subject to 
disorders in consequence of improper treatment during the 
critical season of lying-in, which render the latter years of 
their existence miserable, and which frequently prevent them 
from making those exertions on which their own sustenance, 
as well as that of their family, may depend. 
For these reasons, the Managers of the Royal Infirmary of
Edinburgh allotted, for many years, a Ward for Pregnant
Women, but the number of patients having been restricted to 
fix, their humane intentions were beneficial in a partial de- 
gree only; and from the state of their funds, they have lately 
been obliged to shut up that Ward entirely. 
The increase of workmen in this city has been very great 



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within these few years, while at the same time the ordinary 
wages of labour are so low, that in general a workman can- 
not, by his own industry alone, support a family of children. 
The assistance of his wife’s work, therefore, is necessary for 
this purpose. Hence, during lying-in, the funds of the fa- 
mily are lessened, while the necessary expenses are increased; 
consequently the unhappy mother must either be deprived of 
that care which is absolutely essential to her recovery, (if 
she have escaped the dangers of child-bearing), or a debt must 
be incurred, which may prove the fource of much distress. 
A Lying-in Hospital, on a proper plan, must obviate ma- 
ny of those evils. On the continent, there is an Hospital of 
that kind in almost every large city. In London, there are 
twelve different institutions, for the relief of poor pregnant 
women. In Newcastle, there are two; and in Manchester 
one. A Lying-in Hospital, on a large scale, was established 
in Dublin in the year 1745. 
In many of these Hospitals married women alone are re-
ceived; in some a provision is also made for unmarried wo- 
men; and in a few the benefits of the Charity are extended 
only to out-patients. 
The Directors of the Edinburgh General Lying-in Hospi- 
tal have adopted a plan which comprehends all the advanta- 
ges of those different institutions; while at the same time 
they have endeavoured, by proper Regulations, to guard a- 
gainst every inconvenience which might be dreaded from so 
extensive a plan. 
Convinced that the inhabitants of Scotland cannot be des- 
titute of those feelings which have occasioned the establish- 
ment of similar Charities in every other civilised country, the 
Directors of the Edinburgh General Lying-in Hospital have 
advanced a very considerable sum of money in the purchase 
of a house, area, &c. that the poor of this city may be no 
longer deprived of an institution from which they must de- 
rive so many advantages. 


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LIST OF THE DIRECTORS 
FOR THE YEAR 1793.
President, 
The Right Honourable the Lord Provost. 
Vice Presidents, 
The Lord Chief Baron, 
The First Bailie,  
Dr Monro,
John Davidson, Esq; of Haltrees.
Ordinary Directors, 
The College Bailie, 
The College Treasurer, 
Dr C. Stuart, 
Professor Dugald Stewart,
John Buchan, Esq; writer to the signet,
Hugh Warrender, Esq;
James Williamson, Esq; 
Dr James Hamilton junior.
Treasurer,
Mr Archibald Mackinlay, South Bridge. 
Ordinary Physician, 
The Professor of Midwifery in the University of Edin- 
burgh. 
Extraordinary Physician,
Dr C. Stuart. 
Assistant Physician,  
Dr James Hamilton junior. 


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WET NURSES. 
A Register for Wet Nurses is to be kept at the Hospital, 
and shall be always open to the Subscribers. 
The Nurses entered in this Register must be women of an 
unexceptionable character, who are in every respect properly 
qualified for the important duty in which they wish to en- 
gage. 
That none but women of this description be registered, 
every Nurse must apply to the Physician, who alone is en- 
trusted with the charge of the Register, and who will attend 
at the Hospital, for that purpose, every Tuesday and Friday, 
at Three o’clock P.M. 
Subscriptions and Benefactions for the Edinburgh General 
Lying-in Hospital, are received by Mr A. Mackinlay, Trea- 
surer, South Bridge.