Description:Amongst the vouchers and accounts for expenditure at West Hill is a huge document issued to the second Duke of Sutherland, George Granville Leveson-Gower (1786-1861) by Charles Shillito who was a surgeon in Putney. The document forms a statement of provisions made to the household at West Hill by Shillito in 1840.
Many of the entries are for ‘Ointment’, powders, pills and mixtures. However, the dated entries are particularly interesting as they reveal who the medicines were issued to by the surgeon. This information provides an insight into the health of the household during the mid nineteenth century.
In January 1840 Shillito prescribed powders to the ‘Dairy Maid’ at West Hill, a mixture to the watchman and a ‘Box of Pills’ to the ‘Porter’s Wife’. In March 1840 illness appears to have spread virulently around the laundry, with pills, draughts and mixtures being prescribed to the ‘Upper Laundry Maid’, and other laundry workers. The Porter and Watchman also suffered from poor health in March 1840. In April the Gardener and the Cowman went down with illness, whereas the upper laundry maid continued to be prescribed remedies. In June Surgeon Shillito prescribed ‘Lotion for Eyes’ and also ‘Leeches’ to the household.
This fascinating document reveals a great deal about the health of people living and working at West Hill in 1840.