THE HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1927, Page 15

THE HOSPITAL

AN HISTORICAL SKETCH

A PROVINCIAL INSTITUTION

CONDITIONS IN EARLY DAYS

(By Dr. D. Macdonaia Wilson. Medical

Superintendent.)

The history of the local Hospital, if. followed closely,; reveals itself as ■ an example of evolution in democracy. Its foundation was sanctioned by the Government in England, to whom its representative, the Governor, Sir George Grey, was responsible. Tht) money spent for its maintenance was voted by the British Parliament. At a later date, when local Provincial Government was constituted, the. control was vested in the Provincial Council, but the people using the ' Hospital ■ had ilone in any direct.way. During the 'seventies a.murmuring of discontent is

heard, presently to be more loudly voiced by the citizens of Wellington, until eventually a form of more direct local control is established, ushering in a new era. ' A perusal of the Superintendent's reports of-those days gives ample reason for- dissatisfaction in the community. There may be differences of opinion to-day regarding ■ the adequacy of salaries paid to nurses and other, servants of hospital boards, but at least there are no complaints upon the score of salaries not being paid when due. But evidently before 1871 the Hospital staff could never be certain of. receiving salaries, for Dr. Johnston reports that during the year conditions wore much improved in consequence of salaries being punctually paid.

Trained nurses were not known then, and most of the attention^to patients was given by wardsmen. Dr. Johnston speaks of Mrs. Green, the female attendant, and- Mr. Monteith, his chief assistant, in glowing terms.' Mrs,. Green for 24 years attended in the Hospital, and ultimately retired on account of age arid infirmity. In 1875 Dr. Johnston-reported that this good lady had been unable to save anything for. her old age, and appealed to • the Superintendent of the.Province on. her

received criticism.' in plenty during the past twelve months, but it is doubtful if any has been so direct and severe as tlvat received by the city authorities in 11373 from the Hospital Superintendent: "My last report mentioned that an epidemic of fever (typhoid) had set in, the result of neglect and apathy displayed by the city authorities in not initiating and carrying out a system of drainage and removal of sewerage. During the last year 28 cases of fever have been admitted into the Hospital, resulting in four deaths."

From the above it will be seen Dr. Johnston was not afraid to speak his mind, and he did not mince matters regarding his opinion on the state of the Hospital at this time.' To make room for the typhoid cases he removed some chronic cases from the main building to a weatUerboardefl, unlined straw shed —the only available accommodation. "I have done so, "he says, "without risk or much iuconvenience during the summer months, but if necessity compels me to make use of this building for the same purpose during the winter, I must trust to this and my .previous reports to exonerate me from the consequences that may arise."

In 1874 ho complains that nothing had been done to make the building weather proof even after his report of 1872. "Nothing has been done in this direction, I believe, in consequence of the intention of the Hospital Trustees to build a new hospital. I now look forward to the coming winter when I fear every rain will saturate the wards and every sunny day: will draw out unhealthy exhalations from the decayed timber of the building."

The opening ■of the ''Mount View Asylum" just before this time relievtd the Hosiutal of "the care of the mental cases. Previous to this they were treated in the wards with cases of other illness. "With wards occupied by the insane, also aged and infirm now housed in Benevolent and Old People's Homes, and the acutely ill, medical, and surgical cases, it is small wonder if the acute cases did not receive adequate attention.

With these difficulties, the. want of a water supply, although the mains "were laid down within a few feet of the Hospital, poor, wages only attracting for the most part a rough and drunken type of ward attendant, is it any wonder Dr. Johnston closed his report, "Trusting that another year, will bring forth a hospital fitted with the latest and most approved appliances." NEED POR NEW BUILDINa. However, discontent regarding the condition of the Hospital had evidently by now grown sufficient to make the authorities take-notice, and a select committee was set up to report upon the condition of the Hospital. The gaol and. lunatic asylum were evidently also under some criticism because the select committee was appointed "to inquire into the present state, and management of the ."Wellington Hospital, Gaol, and Ljhatic Asylum." Tho report of this committee is dated 14th May, 1874, and is signed by C. Pharazyn as chairman. The Hospital was found in admirable order as to cleanliness and general arrangements so far as it was possible to make . such arrangements in that building. The Hospital they found far too small'and in a very bad state of repair. "As, however, there can be little doubt that a more suitable one will be erected within a short period, they do not think it advisable to incur a large expense, for a merely temporary building." '.■•■■•

As to the management, the committee were strongly of opinion that "the regulation by which application has to be made to the Government for auth-