NAPIER HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 10072, 13 August 1895, Page 4

NAPIER HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Monday, august 12. ' Present) — Messrs Cohen (chairman), H. Williams, R. D. D. M'Lsan, G. Faulknor, G. Rymer. KKPORT, The visiting committee reported everything going on satltfictorlly. They suggested that tbe matron should take Another room in the place of the one she now occupies, and that repairs and purchases be made to the amount of £25 hi fitting up private wards, &c. They also recommended that a boy be engaged for attending to the telephone, at the door, and ia the dispensary, Tbe report wad adopted. THAT PIANO. Mr Cohen sail he could Bot allow Mr Rymer to move his motion as per notice, " That a piano be procured for the nurees' home," as the auditor would not pibs the account as cunning under the articles required to be nsed in connection with the hospital,— Mr Rymer withdrew his tnottoo, but stated that a private subscript.on had been promoted for the PJitpose, and had been well responded to H.e noticed that in New South Wales leven the "heathen Cbinee" had recog nlsed that nurses should have v -piano, and bad provided one at their own expense. A letter was received from Mr W. Baxter, asking why hU child, admitted into the hospital suffering from diphtheria, and who had subsequently died, had noc been treated with tbe anil-toxin remedy. — An explanation w^s read from Dr. Sweet, on behalf of himself and the medical staff, stating that they (four ia number) astl decided not to administer anfci toxin, but to perform tracheotomy. — A copy tit Dr. Sweet's letter was ordered to be (rent to Mr Bixter. A MATTER OF CASH. ' The Chairman said a number of well-to-do persons had failed to pay amounts owing by them in connection wich tbe hospital. — It was decided to refer the matter to the chairman and visiting committee to take action. REFUSED TO PAY. A letter was received from the Inspector ' of Prisons, stating that the Government was' not responsibla for the cost of prisoners' treatment or maintenance while in the local hospitals,— Received. SWELLING THE FUNDS. The Chairman announced that tbe sum ot £67 4s 9d had been received as the result of the concert given by tbe crew of the Rlngarooma. He had sent a letter of thanks to those concerned. — A vote ol thanks was slbo passed to the matron, who bad suggested tbe entertainment and written to tbe captain of the Ringarooma ia the first instance. RESIGNATION, The Chairman reported that Nurse Hathaway bad resigned, and that be had appointed Nurse Kane as a probationer. HOT WATER, 14 was decided to vote a sum not to exceed £7 for an appliance to supply hot water for the nurses' home. , CANCER PATIENTS. Mr Williams asked to be informed as to ■what the ÜBual practice was in the other colonies in regard to the treatment of cancer patients. Dr. Sweet said that in New Sontb Wales patients who wete found to be incurable were sent to institutions especially provided for the maintenance of patients snffering from incurable diseaseid—institutions of a similar character to the local refnge. All that could be done fo: these patient 3 was to supply them with nourishing food, and provide them with sedatives for the relief cf paia. So far as he knew a elmilnr custom was in vogue all over the woild. Ia the case ot one of the patients lecently referred to, he had been treated for a time in tbe hospital, but as the result of a consultation ot tbe medical staff it was thought that an operation would rather tend to shorten than to proloDg life, and the man was told this. He preferred that the operation should not be proceeded with, and was told he would have to leave, but that if he wanted a home the refuge was available. He subsequently went there, and was there at tbe present time, it was very unfair to the other patients io the hospital that cancer patients should be treated in the general ward. Thß Chairman pointed out that Pr. MeDzles lived ndjacent to the refuge, and attended there twice a day, having a dispensary on the spot. The patients had a separate room in which they lived and were isolated from the rest. Dr Sweet pointed ont that Dr. MacGregor In bis reports strongly condemned the practice of placing chronic cancer patients in hospitals. He contended that It had a very Injurious effect on the other patients, and this had been proved. Mr M'Lean remembered tbat as a ' member of a vUltlng committee on a former occasion he bad protested against j a patient dying of cancer being an iumate ol the hospital. However, he did not consider the refuge the best place in the world for these men. The Chairman eaid they knew that for years be had been agitating for a new refuge, though he took pride to himself that the institution had never before been in as good a condition as it was now. Improvements had been made in every direction. They had better sanitary arrangements, better bedding, in fact everything was better and in a state of cleanliness such as it had never been in before. He bad a great deal of trouble sometimes in bringing this about (with detallß of which he bad never bothered the Board). They often fonnd it difficult to get the men to keep their apartments and bedding clean, but taking into consideration the material they had to work on he was satisfied there was not another institution in New Zealand like it. Mrs Neill bad expressed surprise at tbe excellence of the meals provided for the inmates, and had asked him if these preparations bad been made for her benefit. Of course they bad not, but it was complimentary that the remark should have been made. He hud refnsed to accompany Mrs Neill to tbe home as he had informed her tbat) he wished her to see things as they were and arrive at her own conclusion, and be hoped she would report in the direction of the establishment of a new home. As far ns the cancer patients went they had a comfortable home, with clean beds, and one of their number, who was strong and able to get abiut waited on the others. Air Willlrims lived on tbe spot and was very attentive to his duties, and especially to these poor men. Hf(bhe Chairman) would like to see them in the hospital, bnt unless tbe ruleß wen altered by tbe committee it could noDb. dono. Mr M'Lean aiked if Mrs Neill bad furnlshed a report yet. Mr Cohen said he hoped she had, /> t any rate tbey would have to take into con slderation shortly tbe erection of ncbuildings. MEDICAL STAFF. The re-nppoiutuient of Dm. Jatvis bk Thompson as memters of the houjrw.. I medical staff was confirmed. I The Chairman said the hospital l> ' I never bien better circumstanced in w^hk I to its ajedlcal oilicere than at the present 1

time, and there was every reason for satisfaction in this respect. As a former sturdy opponent to the appointment of these gentlemen he desired to take tlm opportunity of acknowledging how well they had done tbeif work. He intended at next meeting to move in the direction of rescinding the bye-law which provided that members ol the honorary medical staff should permanently retire at the expiration of two years, ACCOUNTS. Accounts amoautinß to £47l 14s were passed for payments