In the villages of Eastern Essex there was no access to free medical care which meant that many poor people used home remedies and every village had wise woman who was often called Nurse to provide advise and often sit with ill people at a cost that poor people could afford. Some of the villages were more enlightened  and provided some assistance for the poor when they were ill that included care by the nurse. Rev Herbert Brown researched some details of care in St Lawrence  that he published in his  book ' History of St Lawrence' A good example is the care provided by the Parish to William Farrington who was obviously very ill requiring home nursing and appears that he may have dies at the end of the nursing. It is not clear if the brandy, wine and beer was for the consumption of the patient or the nurse. Overnight nursing was obviously involved given the 3 purchases of candles. Only one purchase of meat was made with two purchases of bread, butter and flour and one purchase of eggs. This fits in with the information of food for invalids which was kept simple and strong meat content avoided. item cost in shillings and pence 1 pound of candls and 2 pound of muten 1sh 7d 2 qarts of old ber and pound of suger 1sh 10d 1 weak logen 2 sh nusen 2sh bred butter and flour and ags s sh botl of win 2 sh 3d qarten of brandey and 1 lemon 7 1/2 d quart of old ber 6d pound and candls 9d pound of lump sugar for the nus 1 sh 2d 1 weak logen 2sh nurs Bord 4sh 6d 1/2 pint brandey 1sh 1/2 pint of vinegr 1 1/2d pound of suger 9d bred buter and flour ags 2sh the nurs 1 weak nursen 4sh 1 pound candls 9d botl of win 2sh 3d Sam Sparks for goyn to Mr Fishers 6d Ber and vetls at the layenout and Clenen after the next day 3sh to carn to the Church and Baer 5sh The pason 6 and 1 mels vetls to the woman that went to church 1sh 1/2 pint brandy 1sh