The seventh edition of The Compleat Parish Officer was published anonymously in 1734 and reprinted by the Wiltshire Family History Society in 1996. The largest section of this manual concerns the role of the parish constable. “Men of substance, and not of the meaner sort” were elected annually by their neighbours whether they liked it or not. People refusing to serve in this unattractive office were liable to prosecution at the assizes and fines in the lord of the manor's court.
Some of the constables' many duties were designed for the public health. “Constables may command and oblige Persons infected with the plague to keep within their houses; and if after such command, they wilfully go abroad, having any infectious Sores upon them, it is felony; and if they have no Sores, they may be bound to Good Behaviour, and punished as Vagabonds, by whipping, etc.” The manual also explains how to administer this particular physical therapy.
Parish constables also took part in the regulation of drugs and their prescribers. The laws of Henry VIII had empowered the Royal College of Physicians to nominate annually four censors, “who shall search Apothecaries Wares, and examine Medicines and burn or destroy those that are defective.” Support and enforcement came from the primitive police force: “Constables in the City of London, and within seven miles, are to assist the President of the College of Physicians, and such who shall have Authority from him, etc, to put the Laws in Execution concerning the said College.” Neglecting to assist a censor was one way for a parish constable to commit “A Contempt of the King.” Modern mechanisms with the same goals seem rather convoluted compared with when everyone knew everyone in local government.
Physicians' competition was also regulated, and there was less latitude than today for 18th century practitioners of complementary medicine: “none shall practice Physick without License of the College, on pain of forfeiting five pounds a Month, unless it be Persons having Knowledge in Herbs, etc. who may minister to outward Sores, and use Drinks for the Stone, Strangury, or Agues.” Surgeons, however, were of no special concern to the parish constable.
Another duty probably had fiscal motives. “Constables etc. upon Information of Tobacco, set, sown or planted, in any Ground (except Physick Gardens) are to destroy the same within fourteen Days after receiving a Warrant from two Justices of the Peace to that Purpose, on pain of forfeiting 5 s. for every Rod unconsumed.” Now there's police accountability for you.