HOMŒOPATIC HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1650, 8 February 1862, Page 10

HOMŒOPATIC HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY.

The annual meeting of the subscribers to this institution was adjourned from the Hospital Princcs-strect to Dr. Fischer’s residence, on Friday evening last. Captain Salmon was called to the chair. Mr. Jarvis, the Treasurer, read the following ■ report : Report read and adopted at the General Meeting of the Subscribers to the Homoeopathic Association, j. held on the 10th day of January, 1862. Your committee have the pleasure of laying before the subscribers the third report of the Auckland Association, extending over a period of one year and four months ; from the Ist of Sepetember, 1861, to the Ist of January, 1862, which exhibits the , progress of the hospital and dispensary. ) Referring to the last report, in which your committee stated, that on account of the insufficiency of funds they had been reluctantly compelled to withhold from many deserving persons, (who could not afford to pay the weekly sum of ten shillings), the benefits of the charity, and have now with much regret to report that during the period over which this report extends, the funds have not been in a more flourishing condition, in consequence of which, they have not felt themselves justified in extending the benefits of the association but to comparatively a few, and therefore the great object and usefulness of the institution have been considerably retricted. Your committee do not by any means wish to express that they have not met with the most cordial and generous support by all those of the inhabitants of Auckland whose aid has been solicited in the cause, but such solicitations have not been so generally or extensively made as is habitually done by other and similar institutions requiring public support • under those aspects and after an experience of three years, your committee are of opinion that the expense of an institution of this kind cannot be maintained by voluntary subscription alone, without an undue tax on the generosity of the public, and that expense of an hospital with 8 or 10 beds fitted out with all requisite accommodation and comfort for the patients, in a more suitable building than that which is occupied at the present time, cannot be suppprted under an annual expenditure of £3OO, and unless the contribution of such a sum can be depended upon, your committee are of opinion that it would be advisable to close the hospital, but continue the relief of out-door patients by the dispensary alone. Your committee earnestly hope that you will not be induced to withhold your usual suberiptions, as the relief which is afforded is similar to that of the Allopathic Dispensary, with the acception that no expenses are incurred either for medical officer’s salary or for medicines, as generously expressed his willingness to continue his services and furnish the latter gratuitously ns hitherto. ~ ... By these means a considerable sum would be annually saved to the institution, which may probably in the course of time enable you to re-open an hospital worthy of the cause of Homoeopathy. Your committee are otherwise recommending and urging the friends and supporters of Homeopathy to a memorial (now in progress) to the Superintendent and Provincial Council, praying for such aid as would be sufficient for the continuance of this institution, the good results of which even the greatest enemies to the cause can but speak with respect. Your committee would by' no means submit to the provincial government the request of aid to support a particular system of medicine, although the inhabitants adhering to the doctrine of Homoeopathy are numerous enough to dcsctvc the consideration of the authorities ; but your committee desire only such aid ns it thinks the subscribers arc justly entitled to, and that is to such amount ns would otherwise be expended in rations for such number of poor persons as are admitted, fed, lodged, and attended with comfort in the hospital. Evcrv poor and destitute person living in lodgings receives rations from the government ; but when admitted into your hospital such rations cease, and as oftentimes the food given as rations is not suitable for the sick hence the patients in your hospital have been and are supported by the aid of the subscribers alone. Your committee trust that your prayer will be heard, and that the provincial council afier considering the fairness of your request, will accord the aid to which you are justly entitled, and which would enable you to c urry on so charitable an object.^ The medical report, appendix A, shows the total number of patients treated during the last sixteen mouths amounting to 325 cases, of whom 206 were cured, 13 relieved, 7 unaltered, 61 results unknown. 6 died, and 27 remaining under treatment. 48 of the forc' , oin" cases were in-door patients, 36 of whom were cured, 4 D rclieved, 4 unaltered, 3 died, and 1 remaining under treatment. The reason of the apparently few in-door patients is that your committee have not admitted any new cases during the last month. The last and only inmate of the hospital has been suffering with white swelling, and decay of the bones of the leg and head, and although dismissed as incurable from the colonial hospital two years ago ; he is now so far restored as to be able to return to his native country, America, and only waits an opportunity. _ The total number of patients treated since the commencement of the institution, amounts to 705, 470 of whom were cured, 41 relieved, 171 unaltered, 166 results unknown, 14 died, 27 remain under treatment. The treasurer's report, appendix 13, exhibits the following result;— Total receipts £253 13 6 Expenditure 249 4 Balance in hand £3 16 2 Your committee would be guilty of ingratitude did they cordially express their thanks to his honor the for his kindness in permitting the continued use of the building in Princes-strect as an bjSpital.

As regards those ladies who so generously and devotedly came to the assistance of your committee at a time when almost every other aid was incomparably useless, viz., at the bazaar, your committee have not words to thank them, but sincerely trusts that their untiring zeal in all such philanthropic occasions will never flag and never be unrewarded. Although the visits to the hospital of the various and numerous ministers of the gospel in Auckland, have been but few and far between, your committee appreciate them and desire to express their obligations. The adoption of the report having been moved and seconded, the resolution was put and carried. The managing committee was then appointed for the ensuing year. W. PULHAM. Hon. Sec. Memorial to the Provincial Council. In accordance with a suggestion in the report, a resolution was agreed to, recommending that a memorial be drawn up and presented to the Provincial Council praying that a sum equal in amount to the actual outlay incurred by the committee in providing rations for the in-patients of the hospital, be granted in future, to enable the committee to continue the system of indoor relief and medical attendance hitherto afforded, and without which grant-in-aid no more in-door patients could be admitted. The drafting of the memorial was entrusted to Mr. Thos. S. George. Presentation to Dr. Fischer. A testimonial consisting of a large portrait most excellently and successfully painted by Mr. Ewart, and elaborately and beautifully framed by Mr. Leach, bearing the following inscription. To C. F. Fischer, M.D., a grateful acknowledgment from the Auckland Homoeopathic Association for 3 years gratutious services as Medical Officer to the Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispensary, Jan. Ist 1862, was then presented to that gentleman with the following address:—

Dear Sir, —The members of the Homoeopathic Association, animated by a desire of giving expression to the sentiments of esteem and gratitude which they have so long entertained towards you, request that you will favour them by your acceptance of the accompanying Testimonial. As the founder of Homoeopathy in this province, and the great ability united with kindly zeal, and the utmost liberality with which your practice has been characterized throughout, in disseminating the blessings of this unswerving law of healing, we beg in this small spontanious act to record our lively appreciation of your eminent qualifications and worth. As members of the Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispensary, and witnesses of their good results, we should be failing in our duty if we did not avail ourselves of this opportunity to record the numerous expressions of gratitude, both in words and deeds, which have been returned to us by great numbers of your patients after restoration to health.

With our earnest prayers that the Almighty disposer of all good may long preserve to our institution your generous services; and to yourself the disinterested gladness in success, which has evidently—during a period of upwards of eight years—borne you onwards single handed against a great amount of determined a.ncl combined opposition:—Wc are, dear sir, yours with sincere regard,

J. Salmon, Chairman General Meeting, Hospital Association, Auckland, January 10th, 1852. Dr. Fischer replied in feeling terms, staling that as a professional man he had merely done his duty by the Homoeopathic institution, and therefore deserved no thanks on that account. He had to thank his kind friends in Auckland for their sympathy and support for eight years, and said that the success which had attended homoeopathy in this city was mainly owing to them. Dr. Fischer concluded by expressing a hope that the institution with which they were connected might increase in usefulness, and promised his active assistance and support.