BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

Evening Star, Issue 7470, 14 March 1888, Page 2

BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION TRUSTEES.

The ordinary meeting of the Benevolent Institution Trustees, held this afternoon, was attended by Messrs Solomon (chairman), Haynes, Rennie, Carroll, Isaac, Gonrley, and Fagan,

Accounts amounting to L 205 14j 7d were passed for payment. IEITI)bRS A'CCETTEID, , The CiT.ViptiA;’; intimated that the following tenders had been accepted for the bupply of necessaries to the institution: —Groceries, Messrs A. and J. M’Farlane; biead, Mr W. R. Latham (4d per loaf); meat, Mr S. G. Smith (lid per lb allround); milk, Mr D, H. Johnston (sid per gallon); Newcastle coals, Messrs Martin and Watson (2.1s lOd per ton); fuel (provincial coals, 10s lOd per ton, and wood), Mr H. Gore ; medicines, Mr M. Marshall; funerals, Mr A. J. Wynn (adults 47s Gd, children 2Gs Cd),

A LYING-IN WARD. The following letter was read Dunedin, March fl. Dear Sir,—As I understand your Board are endeavoring to make some provision in place of the recently abolished lying-in ward of the Dunedin Hospital, I take the liberty of writing you on the subject to lay before you my views on the matter, and hope to make some suggestions whereby suitable arrangements may bo made for cases requiring assistance. The plihcipal reasons which I believe determined the Hospital Committee to elose the lying-in ward were

It Wfts not considered a part of the functions of an hospital to provide accommodation for lying-in tainsr. ThOao Wards, especially where connected with % g’enebal hospital, have been proved to be highly dangerous, being specially liable to most riialighant epidemics of child.-bed fev.er. By adopting an entirely different system of conducting the maternity department to that followed in the past, I believe it can be far more effectually worked, its scope for useful work can be much expanded, and its working expenses materially decreased. In Dunedin at the present time it would seem that there are two classes of cases to be met. Ist. Married women in reduced circumstances, unable to pay for skilled medical attendance, and consequently too often compelled to trust their lives in the hands of ignorant midwives.

2nd. Single women who have got into trouble, and have no homes to go to. The first class could be attended at their own homes, without putting the Hospital or Charitable Aid Board to any expense. The second class will, I think, be best met by a system of boarding-out in private houses. Mr Burns, the resident secretary at the hospital, made some inquiries into this matter, and found suitable accommodation , coiild tie readily secured in the immediate neighborhood of the hospital at a very moderate cost. Tvo pounds would probably more than covet the expenses of each case. The total number is very small—not more than thirty to forty annually— and, consequently, the total expenses incident to this boarding-out system would bo considerably under LIOO per annum. Provided this system is adopted, the function of the hospital would seem to me to be to provide medical attendance days and exercise a general supervision over the conduct of the department; and surely it is more witlvn the scope of the Charitable Aid Board to provide accommodation and lodgings for tlnse necessitous cases.

The Dunedin Hospital would seem eminently suited for carrying out the administrative work of the department for the following reasons ! Its convenient central position; its large medical staff, ensuring efficient and immediate medical aid where required ; itr flourishing and progressing medical school, which may be calculated upon for supplying a sufficient number of senior students to take charge of simple cases ; and the constant attendance of watchmen and porters at all hours Cf the day or night. The general management of the department can be easily undertaken by the resident secretary, ehl would add but little to his work.

I would therefore briefly suggest that the hospital supply medical attendance and drugs ; the Charitable Aid, Board supply the funds necessary for boarding a limited number of cases, say, not to exceed LIOO in any one year ; and that the Ladies’ Committee of the Refuge be asked to render assistance by inquiring into individual cases, supplying minor necessaries in cases of absolute poverty, and assisting t ingle women on recovery to make a fresh start. The details of the system that I now propose is that adopted in all towns where medical schools exist, and has been carried out for the past two months at the Dunedin Hospital, and has, so far, I belie e, been found to work most satisfactorily. Application for assistance during confinement is made to tho secretary of the hospital, who, after inquiries into the circumstances of tho applicant, if ho finds the case a suitable one, supplies a printed card, which, on presentation at the hospital, entitles the applicant to immediate medical assistance. If the patient lives at her own homo, and within reasonable distance of the hospital—say within the radius of the Town Belt —she is attended at her own house; if homeless, the patient is portioned off to one of the boarding houses, where she resides during and for a short time following her confinement. The medical attendance ia undertaken by the senior medical students only. Stringent rules have been drawn up to ensure thorough and efficient attendance. No student will be permitted to attend a ease until ho has received a practical and theoretical course of instruction in midwifery. In every case of delay or difficulty ho is directed to apply at once for assistance. An accurate record of each case is required from him from the commencement of his attendance to its completion. Cases attended in this way probably receive far more efficient aid than when attended by a young practitioner who undertakes a case solely on his own responsibility. I have written to the secretary of the hospital asking him to forward you all the forms, rules, etc., drawn up and presented by the Hospital Committee at my suggestion to ensure the department being efficiently worked and under thorough control. The adoption of some such system as here proposed is, I consider, of the utmost importance.

1. In the interest of the poorer classc, whereby they can depend upon obtaining efficient medical aid in all cases requiring it. 2. In the interest of the ratepayers, as this system will do away with the necessity of an expensive lying-in establishment. 3. In the interest of tho medical school, as by this system the student may obtain a practical knowledge of midwifery before entering practice, and be able to rely upon receiving assistance in case of need.—l am, etc.,

Frkdk. Batchelor, To the chairman of the Benevolent Trustees.

The Chairman could not see the slightest objection to facilitating the study of medicine. It was a mere question of £s. d. Mr Fagan suggested that Dr Macpherson should bo appointed in the meantime. He favored ignoring the letter altogether. The Chairman : That would be discourteous.

It was agreed to allow the matter to stand over for a week ; the chairman to consult with Dr Macpherson with respect to attending all cases.

relief. Several cases of relief were dealt with.