DICKMAN, Henry | British History Online

Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database. Originally published by Centre for Metropolitan History, London, 2004.

Citation:

Margaret Pelling, Frances White, 'DICKMAN, Henry', in Physicians and Irregular Medical Practitioners in London 1550-1640 Database( London, 2004), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-physicians/1550-1640/dickman-henry [accessed 21 November 2024].

Henry DICKMAN

Biography


Name	Henry DICKMAN
Gender	Male
Primary occupation	medical apothecary (Apothecary's servant 1607. SA c 1617)
Period of medical practice	1597-1657
Date of death	13 Oct 1657
Address	Newgate Market 1607. Aldermanbury 1640
Other notes	In trouble 1607-39 but usually acquitted. ?Brother John also apothecary?

Known London address


	Newgate Market
Parish	Christ Church Newgate Street [incl St Audoen 1547; St Nicholas in the Shambles, 1547; part of St Sepulchre's, 1567]
Ward	Faringdon Within
Date	1607
	Aldermanbury
Parish	St Mary Aldermanbury
Ward	Cripplegate (Within & Without)
Date	1640

Censorial hearings


	4 Sep 1607
Entry	D, servant to John SMITH 683 (qv), apothecary of Newgate Market, was charged by William Draper of St Bart-the-Less, and by Elizabeth Norton, housekeeper to Mr Willoughby of St Bart-the-Greater, of treating John Hasledowne & causing his death by bowel flux. SMITH appeared and made 'ridiculous' excuses.
Initiator of the complaint	person unconnected with the patient or the case
Second initiator of the complaint	person unconnected with the patient or the case
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	SMITH to bring D to the next meeting.
Number of crimes	1
	13 June 1634
Entry	Mr Cooper complained of D, but D had Dr Clement's instructions.
Action taken	Vindicated.
Verdict	innocent
Number of crimes	1
	3 May 1639
Entry	Martha Willis accused D of treating her son John Willis.
Initiator of the complaint	relative of the patient
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	D to appear. See next.
Number of crimes	1
	6 May 1639
Entry	Mrs Willis, Anne Belamy and Sara Cowley accused D of treating John Willis unsuccessfully for ague. D was also charged with treating Mr Barker for a boil under his chin, for £20 - but the details were confused - D produced a prescription from Dr Hinton. College passed it by if the plaintiffs & D could come to an agreement.
Initiator of the complaint	relative of the patient
Second initiator of the complaint	friend/neighbour/acquaintance of the patient
Third initiator of the complaint	friend/neighbour/acquaintance of the patient
Action taken	Settled out of court (?).
Verdict	case not completed
Number of crimes	2
	9 Oct 1607
Entry	SMITH & D appeared. S claimed that they sold only 'conserve of roses and wild plums'. The Lord Mayor had received the conserve and a red powder by John Ely.
Action taken	No punishment. Ordered to bring the conserves to next meeting.
Verdict	case not completed
	4 May 1610
Entry	D and SMITH were charged by Dr Goulston and failed to appear.
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Attitude of the accused	absent
Action taken	Failed to appear.
	1 June 1610
Entry	The case brought by the informer Gulson against Henry Dickman was heard by them in the presence of his master: the discussion split into opposing groups until at length by a decision of the President, the whole dispute was broken off. (see Book of Examinations page 10b.)
Initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Action taken	?None
Verdict	case not completed
	20 Nov 1612
Entry	Dr Clement said that D had prescribed a purge. SMITH said that it was tabulas stibiatas, which he sold as did all apothecaries, and provided for Mr Noble, a country practitioner.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Action taken	See next.
Number of crimes	1
	4 Dec 1612
Entry	D appeared and denied Dr Clement's charges. He was warned to give antimony tablets only on prescription. Dr Goulston said that he had heard D offer flowers of sulphur for a cold.
Initiator of the complaint	college member
Second initiator of the complaint	college member
Attitude of the accused	denied
Action taken	Case postponed. Warned to give medicines only on prescription.
Verdict	not proven
Number of crimes	2
	9 April 1629
Entry	Mr Bale complained that D had treated his wife, Anna Bale, for 20s., and had cut her vein. They had previously used Dr Yelverton. D had Yelverton's recipe and confessed to obtain a pardon.
Initiator of the complaint	spouse of the patient
Attitude of the accused	confessed
Action taken	?D was pardoned.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Pardoned
Number of crimes	1
	5 Feb 1630
Entry	D was accused by Frederick Porter. Mr Seman, an attorney of Bow Lane, had recommended D to Porter. D had said that Porter had French pox, and had given him 3 mineral pills, wch caused delirium and mouth ulcers, and then a dietetic drink, and had charged £4. D said the pills were turbinth, ordered by Edward Harris of Smithfield (surgeon) & approved by BUTLER 135 (qv).
Initiator of the complaint	patient
Action taken	Harris & Seman to be summoned when Goulston & Meverall were present
Number of crimes	1
	5 March 1630
Entry	D, Porter, Harris, Seman & his wife appeared, nurse, maid. Dr Goulston & Dr Meverall thought that Porter had surf (?) & scabies, not pox. Harris confessed to supplying pills, but for no fee, & denied prescribing them. Butler sent a statement undertaking the treatment. Seman said P had had little improvement from Meverall's medicine. Nurse had taken Butler a urine sample. B had sold P's maid Mary Clarke a potion as protection from the pox. Coll gave P a letter testifying he had no pox. P to prosecute Seman for saying he had.
Initiator of the complaint	patient
Second initiator of the complaint	other medical practitioner
Third initiator of the complaint	friend/neighbour/acquaintance of the patient
Action taken	D was fined £3 but 10s. was remitted because of his poverty.
Verdict	guilty
Sentence	Fined £3, reduced to £2 10s. because of his poverty
Number of crimes	1