Koishikawa Yojosho

During the Edo period, the shogunate established this sanatorium for the poor and sick within Koishikawa Botanical Garden. It was established in January 1722 (7th year of the Kyoho era) when a local doctor, Ogawa Shosen (1672-1760), submitted a petition to the suggestion box. It came under the control of the town magistrate, and two yoriki (police officers) and six doshin (police officers) worked as sanatorium staff. The capacity of the facility was initially 40 people, rising to 100 the following year, and 150 in 1929, but dropped to 117 in 1933, remaining unchanged until the end of the Edo period. There were nine doctors (later five) divided into the main hospital, surgery and ophthalmology departments, and the descendants of Ogawa Shofune served for generations, as well as other doctors for meetings and small construction projects, but from 1843 (Tenpo 14) they became town doctors. Operating expenses were initially 750 ryo per year, but increased to 840 ryo during the Horeki era (1751-1764), and this amount remained unchanged until the end of the Edo period. When the facility was first established, there were many applicants, but by the end of the Edo period, that number had halved. Around the Tenpo era (1830-1844), the interior was unsanitary, and the nursing room was said to be in a state of severe decay.

[Minami Kazuo]

"The Social Structure of Edo" by Minami Kazuo (1969, Hanawa Shobo)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代に幕府が小石川薬園内に設けた貧窮病人の施療所(せりょうしょ)。1722年（享保7）正月、一町医の小川笙船(しょうせん)（1672―1760）が目安箱(めやすばこ)に投じた上書が契機となって設置をみた。町奉行(まちぶぎょう)の支配に属し、与力(よりき)2人、同心(どうしん)6人が養生所掛として勤めた。収容規模は最初40人、翌年には100人、29年150人となったが、33年から117人となり、以後幕末まで変わらなかった。医師は9名（のち5名）で本道(ほんどう)、外科、眼科に分かれ、小川笙船の子孫が代々勤めたほか、寄合(よりあい)医師、小普請(こぶしん)医師らであったが、1843年（天保14）以降は町医師となった。運営費は最初は1か年750両であったが、宝暦(ほうれき)（1751～64）年中より840両とし、その金額は幕末まで変わらなかった。設立当初は入所希望者は多かったが、幕末では約半数となっている。天保(てんぽう)（1830～44）ころの内部は不衛生で、看病中間(ちゅうげん)の腐敗も甚だしかったという。

［南　和男］

『南和男著『江戸の社会構造』（1969・塙書房）』

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