ABSTRACT
Scotland's 19th century system of poor relief, like England's, had a major discontinuity, the passing from the 'Old' Poor Law and the hesitant start of the 'New' in 1845. The New Poor Law in the first place put pressure on parishes and towns to be more generous with allowances. There was, however, little pressure on them to do much about the health of their clients. But other events conspired to reduce the influence of the evangelical movements. The presence and power of the Church of Scotland was drastically reduced by the great split of 1843, the 'Disruption' after which the established Church became merely the Church of approximately a third of the population. It was impossible to accept the claim that poor relief could be restored to its management and control. At the same time, middle-class Scots proved more susceptible than they had been before to the tenet of less eligibility.
