ANNUAL MEETING OF HOSPITAL SUBSCRIBERS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume 26, Issue 1369, 16 January 1896, Page 3

ANNUAL MEETING OF HOSPITAL SUBSCRIBERS.

The annual meeting of subscribers to the Naseby Hospital wa3 held in the Council Chambers on Thursday, January 9th, when there was a very fair attendance- Mr J. Mitclu'll, chairman of trustees, occupied the chair. The minutes of last annual meeting were cvnfirme < on the motion of Mr \V. Guffie, seconded by Mr W. F. Inder. doctors' report. The doctor's report read by the secretary was as follows : STATISBICS. Number of patients on Decemb: r 3lst, 1304 .. 4 Number admitted during the year, iS f j:> .. .. 9" Total under treatra?nt h. Number of patients discharged during 1895 .. 82 Number of patients who died .. .. .. (i .Number remaining on December 31st, 1895 .. 13 Total 101 6BX. Female# 32 Males .. 6.) Total .. .101 CONDITION IN LIPS, Single women .. .16 Married women .. .. .. ltf men "47 Married men . 22 Total IUI LOCALITIES FROM WUICO TQ3 PATIENTS CAME. Kveburn, 24; Naseby, 23; Pat-earoa, 10; LlamiN tons, S; Hyde, 7; bt. Bathans, 6; Evvermrn, 0; B'.ackstone Hill, 5; Giinmerburn, 3; Cambrian, 2; Weilderbum, 2; Cromwell, l ; Dunedin, 1; I; Serpentine, 1; .Uiddlemarch, 1; total, LUi. Lasf. year Kveburn headed the list with 24, St. Bathans came next with 18, and Hyde was third with 17, white Naseby only us l(j. rieeiutr that I)r Shields is now resident in Hyde we can hardly expect many patients from that locality. NATIO.N'ALHT. New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. ..29 Scotland .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2(J i Snjjland 22 Ireland 13 Victoria 4 China .. .. .. .. .. . .. 4 America .. .. .. .. .. .. .. \ Tasmania 1 Malta 1 Total 101 RELIGION. Presbyterian, 39 ; Church of En.fl »nd, 3ft; Roman Catholic, 21; Coiifucia 1, 4; .'.'esk*yati, 2 ; total, lot. The total collective days' stay in the hospital watilG; the i liividuil di-.*' stiy was i»j. The daily number of patients w.»s 6-3. OUT-V'ATIKNTrt. We have this year trea'.-ed more outpatient-* than we I reated last year—3B b/mj; our iiumb-r this year a> against 2'J last year. T.ie visits paid number IGS. FINANCIAL. No less a s.tm than 4:1*7 17s 0d has been rf-ceivod !, y Mr Km- as pa ien: •* fe -s. >Vhen this i, added t. > the amount a.'rcady ■ •ollected by the v.wt.wy ihtotal should !•« a Vi' y handsome sum. I m-v sav that the f.-es arc paid to us most and wh m the jiatients have the money no diilijultv m thefts. Of the 101 in-patients, 65 w ere medical eavn and :WJ were surreal. Chloroform was administered 22 lime*. 1 must here express my thanks to l)r .Shield., of Hyde, for his help on two or three occasions durir.i: operation*. In one operation I was fortunate enough to h.*e th» assi'tauc of Ur SL'V.r- xor, in.- ,usp eturz i'leral of hospital*, to whom uUoarem »• b-*; thank* due. Th»' inspector paid his annual \ hit on November tfi.h and found the hospital in a satisfactory conditioo. W..* had at the time M patient* u der treatm-Mf., >o tn it he trot a fair i t of Uw routine work. H • u-as pleased with the impt ovf-mcni.- m;td»since his former visit, tlie tire apparatus, water supptv and kitchen e. For the b.-n.-Ut of the subscribers I may her«» nvm» tion that have three leu-Lin of ho'-eoach frUft and x hydrant ready at a moment'* n dice to case o. ftrc\ The water pr»->*ure is 7Mb* to the are im:h. liONATIOSS, VIMIHJKH, &C. F>v»:ry wei-k w,.- rec-ive donations in som«'form or °/' 1 ' r^r 0!n fr '"*'df of the i.tgittuunn. It h extremely

ex-patients who wish in some way to mark theii appreciation' of the treatment received while iti the hospital. It ih not necessary to particularise the donors or then- jrifcs, which include the following R r tHes : -P° u ltry butter, vegetables, fish, fruit-, clothing, % books, newspapers, ornaments &c. As a ruie patients arc; always jjlad to see visitors and we encou.-i.jfe them as much as possible to come when the sick people are able to see thetn. At the same time visitors must not loot on it «.a a right but only ;is a privilege, to enter the wards as it is sometimes necessary to exclude even the relatives of the pauonte The Re-s. Mr Smith, Mr Mitchell, Father Sheehan, and the Salvation Army othcers have beeu very attentive to the patients throug-nout the ye.-ir. Nor must I forget the aseliv Brass Band winch is always weic 'm;d in th- ground's few hours C ° UrSeS mU " S ' C °" Suutia J' afternoons for a Tils garden hat been kept in excellent order bv Mr H. Davis, wno tries to supply the kitchen with as many yegetanles as he am. The (lower garden is Uher tt hobby Ve th ' 3 sumluer ' Mr:i Ki " y ' havi, lir made

mux's ward too sm.u.t,. Our experience this lust year is that the men's ward is too small. At present it contains eight beds, and nni?' 7-n !>ir K- P^' e ls ! t5 -° feec ' f -'- ench bed has not quite 7/0 cubic r-er of air space, an allowance much too small for hospital purposes. It is a common thing to have the eight beds occupied as we have at present, and a visitor to the ward would be struck with the foulness of the. air in the u-.trd about two hours after the patients have gone co bed It quite apparent noiv, in the summer time; even with all the ventilation we have, but it is infinitely more apparent iri the winter time when it is impossible to open the windows. I am, tnerefore, unler the necessity of bringing this in .tter under your careful consideration, and w. ulil t.ro igly urge the advisability of having t | le ward enlarjr.d. The followii g quotation from our greatest authority on the subject is very apropos" For sick persons the cubic spue should be more than for healthv persons. Verv much the same considerations apply "to sick as to healthy men, except that the allowance i>f air in all cases of acute diseases must- be greater; and, therefore, especially if njtural ventilation be employed, the cubic space has to be enlarged also to injure gO"d distribution without draught, for surface chilling must be carefully avoided. In nospitais a certain amount of floor space is indispensably necessary ; firstly, for the lateral separation of patients; secondly, for the convenience of attendance. For the first object, the greater floor space the better; and in respect of the second, Sir H. .-.eland lias clearly shown that the minimum floor spice for convenient nursing should be/2 square feet p.-r bed. Io a ward of 32 feet in neignt this would give (-(>4 cubic feet, which is much too swill. Tnc height of our mud is lOtl Tin, and the cubic space is only 770 ft and yet 864 feet <s ?«.«•« ton small. I think, from what i have quotd, that all must agrje that increased accommodation is necessary. i>cw, I have been going on the a s imption that eight is our maximum number of men. We have irequently had more than that number in at one time. Rightly speaking the ward should be lengthened as well as (lightened. But. to incnase the height is a practical difficulty. I w iuld suggest, ho.vever, th it the extra cubic space could tte m 1(1 ■' up iIV increasing the length still further, say 20 or 2ift and leave the beignt as it is.

CONCLUSION. We have been fortunate in lining well-behave! patients. Their conduct has been admirable. Once ouly have 1 had occasion to caution a man about his behaviour. I cannut speak too highly of "iir a.iu Mrs h.nig, who strive to the utmost to make the hospital couiiortable ior the patients. They do a irreat deai \A work that miny would consider outside their duties. Last February th-v h*d n fortnight's holiday, and at the end of this month they will get awav for a change, Mr and Mm Lanjfinaak tnkiutf their planes. In conclusion I must thank the trustees for thu' manner in which my mu:iv dem \ruls are met and ror the interest they take in our work.

It was mo veil by Mr Gordon, and seconded hy Mr Donnelly—That the d octoi's ejjott lie adopted, and that the incoming trustees be instructed to apply to tne Central Otago Hospitals Board for the money necessary to eelarge the men's ward.

Mi. Gutfie thought they were gre:it-ly in- • debted to the doctor for His very full account. ■ of the year's work. It was almost super- 1 fluous to mention what everyone knew, tli-vt i the doctor displayed the warmest interest m j the institution. H: was sure that they 1 were all agreed as to the necessity of an j i enlarginent on the lines suggested in the I report. Apart from the present need of ; i increased accommodation they could justly ' ask the board for help because this part of i : the country hac for years been contributing | to the revenue of the Central Otago Hospitals Board much more in. proportion to the amount received back in aid of this Hospital thau Vincent County, where there were two hospitals. This county contributes nearly half of the locally raised revenue, Vincent con-rilmting a trifle more than half and receives two-thirds of the locally raised revenue When he told them that for the year ending March 31st, 1895, the Naseby Hospital treated 116 patients, while D.instan and Cromwell Hospitals taken together treated 124, it must be plain ihit the call they proposed to make on the iu ids of the Central Ocago Hospital Board was no more than just. The Rev Mr Smith remarked that the report disclosed a high state of efficiency at a very loa- cost. The motion was carried unanimously. i TRUSTEES RFPORT. The trustees presented the following i report and balance-sheet:— RECEIPTS. Balance 2 U 5 Government subsidy .. .. 133 17 10 Central Hospital Board 631 9 8 Receipts on account of patients 183 16 2 Subscriptions and donations. 105 Oil Bank overdraft 12 8 1 £1075 7 1 ; EXPENDITURE. Salaries and wages .. .. 394 10 6 Printing and advertising .. 9 8 0 [ Stamps and Stationery .. 18 9 Incidental expenses .. 30 1 11 j Rations and provisions .. 152 711 Wines, spirits, aleandportir.. 8 8 0 Medical comforts .. .. 6 9 3 Fuel and light .. .. . 61 19 2 Bedding and clothing.. .. 22 4 9 Surgery and dispensary .. 40 4 3 Furniture and earthenware .. 8 7 0 Buildings nud repairs .. .. 54 10 0 Washing and laundry .. 10 0 A'ater supply .. .. '. 103 9 0 Insurance 8 0 0 Extra labour . .. .. 15 16 0 Funerals .. 9 10 0 Exchange 19 6 Interest on overdraft.. .. 6 0 924 19 6 Fixed deposit .. .. 150 0 0 Cash in hand 7 7 £1075 7 1 Deducting £lO3 9s, the cost of introducing water supply, ami £54 10s, cost of additions to building, or £157 I lis in all, the net cost. of uiai ;taiuiiu' tue hospital for the year is found, to b.- £767 Us 6d. TRUSTKKS' RKPO&T. At th • last annu d m .-ctinif we laid before the contri ut. rs what we had d j e and whit ;we halio do to complete the aimngt'inuui* in h.md." We stated as yo i will nave observed in the r port jusi n-ii't that the layiuir d< w« of tie water supply was delayed nvinji to Messrs Inder ami Gutlie wishing to w irk out i paddock in front of the ho-piul so that the pipes shoull not have to be .shifted when la.d do.\ n, and that the trustees had purohut-e.i a kitchen with two double pressure boilers, als<» ao enamelled bath for the women's bathroom ; thes ■ have been li ved und all these works have been completed. The insperior of nospiuls who paid the institution a 'isit the oth>T ivi-ek expre-sed himself thoroughly satistled wirti the improvements made. We have another dillicolty now to contend with —the men's ward !j i.ot large enough to accommodate the number of patients *6' king admission, and that sbouid have immediate consideration. The adoption of Lhe report, moved by Mr Mitchell and seconded by Mr Jones, was carried unanimously. In answe- to questions regarding incidental expenses it was 'ixpl.iined that a number <>f articles required for furnUhiii" the new ward of tiie ho-pital had increased the item. hI.KCTIO.N OF TRUSTEES. The meeting then proceeded to the election of two trustees in place of MrS. K. M'Carthy and Mr Jones. Only Mi' Jones, proprsed by Messrs W. F. luder and Dawson, and Mr Donnelly, proposed by Messrs E. Hull and .Jackson, b iiig nominated those gentlemen weie declared elected. VOTES OF THANKS. Mr r ;ufTie moved That a hearty vote of thanks be aecur led to the doctor, w inisman, matron, and secretary for tip-ctiicicnt way in which they have fulfilled their icspective dr.'.ies during lhe year, lie was sure that they wee all proud of this institution, which did such a highly bcuelieicnt work in tiie district and so well. Its liurmonius working ami tiie good beha- ior of the patients as a matter for cotigra". illation. Mr \Vi!sin who seconded the inuticp, said lie was in hearty accord with the ■notion Toe motion was carried unanimously. MrDiwsoi moved that-a hearty vote of thanksb- p-e mled to tiie titisics lor the e iicieo y of their serums during the past year. He -aid !::al theyoulj' required to look at the improvements effected during the past year or tun - t o l.iuw tiiai the truslcs hid been moat fail hful to their trust. The motion uas seconded by Mr Gordon and carried unanimously. Mr W. F. lnder moved and Mr Evans seconded a 'notion 1h it I fie representative members of the institution, M«'s-rs I'urneU, (itiifie, and .1 ihnslone be thanked for their services rendered so ungrudgingly —Carried unanimously. Mr 'lndie returned thanks for th vote. A vote of thanks to 'he chair, passed oil the motion of Mr Sim, terminated the Mire! it!;.'.

TEE WORLD RUNS AWAY FROM Us The other day we ha/1 a talk with a man who knew as little of the world around him as a baby. Yet hj« was a man of natnml fiae intelligence. He had just been reliered. from prison, lea peat's ago ne' was • cerated under a ife sentence. Recent!' however, circumst nces had arisen whiol proved his inaocen-e, and ho obrainel liifreedom. But not I'ng seemed as befovr, He had been stationary while the wor'd moved on. Many of his old friends were dead, and all were changed. A big slice < f his career w,s L at, and wor.se than lo*f, Could he ever make it up ? No. neve;-, besides, although hi had committed n ; ' offence, the mere f.ict that he had hem convicted of one, would always place him at a disadvantage. Different as it is in all outward conditions long illness produces results which resembles those of enforced solitude. When confined to our homes by .disease we are virtually out ■f the world. Friends, may. and do. pity us. But they do not lie down by our Ride aid suffer with us. Ah I no. They go their own ways and leave us alone. In the midst of company we are still alone. Enjoyment, food, sleep, fresh a'ir, movement, work, &c— those are for them, not for vs. Alas! for the poor prisoner whose jailor is some relentless disease. • Who shall open the iron doors and set Aim free? '' I never had any rest or pleasure." So w ites a man whose letter wo have just t »'! reac^a o' " ■'• n early part of ■>oß, he says, '* a strange feeling carne over m heavy, drowsy, languid and tired. Something appeared to be wrong with me. and I conldn't account for it. I had a foul ■taste m the mouth, my appetite failed, and what I did eat lay on me like a stone. Soon I became afraid to eat, as the act was alwayi? followed by pain and distress. Sometimes 1 had a sensation of choking in the throat as if I could not swallow. 1 w;ls swollen, too, the • boJ J r -. and g ot about yrith Qilticulty owing to increasing weakness. '• At the pit of my so nach was a hungry cravmg sensation, as though I needed support from food ; yet the little I took did not abate this feeling, .My .sleep was broken, and I awoke in the morniiiL l " unrefreshed. or/ 111 '" y-drg I contin.iA li u this wretched s ate before I found relief."

This letter is signed by Mr Charles H. » mith of 19, New O'tv Hoad, Glasgow, and dited February 15th, 1893. Befuie we hear h >\v he w*\s at last • ebvered from the slavery of illness, let u listen to the words of a lady on the same theme : Mrs Mary Ann Uaslin?, of Station lioa-i, Misterton, near Gainsborough. In a brief note dated Jinuiry 3rd, 1893, Mrs K.u->ling says she suffered in a similar way for oner fiftey, y cirs. Her hands and feet were cold and clammy, and she was pale and bloodless. She had pain in the left side and palpitation, and her breathing was short and hurried. Js r o medicines availed to help her until two years ago. "At that time," she savs, " our minister, the late Rev. Mr Watson, told me of Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup, and urged me to make a trial of it. I did so an I presently felt great relief. It was not 1 ig before the bid symptoms all left me, a. i I pra-hi'tlty got strong. I keep iu good health and bare pleasure in making knovm to others the remedy which did so much for me.

Mr Smith was completely cured by the Fame re'nt*dy, an 1 says had ho known of it sooner he would have b.;ea saved years of misery.

lue real ailment in both these eases was indigestion and dyspepsia, with its natural cons -quen ;es. Throughout tbe civilised ■world lis course is marked by a hundred forms of pain and suffering. i\leu and w )men are torn to pieces by it as vessels are by the rocks on which they are driven by tempests. So comprehensive and allembraciug is it that we may almost say that there is no other disease. It signifies life transformed into death, bread turned into po'son. U atoh for its earliest signs - especially the feeling of wariness, languor, and faii 'Me, which at nn mce its approach. Prevention is better than cure. But, by the use of Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup, cut is always possible; and poor captives in the loathsome dungeons o£ illness are daily i' liver 'd as the hand o£ the good German n'lrse swings open the doors.