BRISTOL ROYAL INFIRMARY.
A History of the Bristol Royal Infirmary. By G. Munro Smith. (Bristol : Arrowsmith. I2s. 6d. net.)—Bristol was the first town in Great Britain outside London to open a hospital for the sick poor, though Winchester and Edinburgh ran it close. This elaborate history of the Bristol Royal Infirmary since 1737, with biographies of the civic worthies who took part in the management and the medical men who wore attached to the staff, adds an interesting chapter to the annals both of Bristol and of British medicine. Dr. Munro Smith abounds in anecdotes. He recalls a Dean of Wells who took such delight in cock-fighting that he had a cock-pit made in full view of his dining-room window, which was enlarged for the benefit of his sporting friends. He tells horrible stories of body-snatching, and he gives an amusing account of William Turner, the wealthy man who was engaged to Hannah More but could not summon up courage enough to lead her to the altar and gave her an annuity instead.
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