Legal Definitions - nosocomus

The term nosocomus is a historical designation for an individual who held the responsibility of managing a hospital specifically dedicated to providing care for impoverished or indigent people.

• Imagine a large monastery in medieval Europe that operated an infirmary for the local poor who could not afford medical treatment. The monk appointed to oversee the daily administration of this infirmary, ensuring patients were cared for and resources were managed, would have been performing the role of a nosocomus.

• In 18th-century London, a philanthropic society might have established a small hospital to serve the city's destitute population. The person hired or appointed to direct this institution, handling its finances, staff, and patient admissions, would have functioned as the nosocomus for that charitable hospital.

• Consider a rural poorhouse in the 19th century, which often included a dedicated ward or building for its sick residents. The individual tasked with supervising this medical wing, ensuring the sick received basic care and the facility was maintained, would have been acting in a capacity consistent with that of a nosocomus.