H.—3l

10

during the year, coincident with several cases cf par. onychia among the nurses. Three pupils had to be sent away for a time —one of these had entered upon her training with the trouble.— Agnes L. Bennett, M.D. St. Helens Hospital. Dunedin. During the year from the Ist April, 1913, to the 31st March, 1914, 163 cases were confined, and 158 children were born alive. There were 6 still-births. There was I maternal death and 5 deaths of infants. In their own homes 59 patients were attended, and 59 children born alive. There were no maternal deaths and no infantile deaths. The Matron, Miss Holford, was on sick-leave for nine months, which she spent in England. Miss Gow, the Sub-Matron, managed the hospital excellently in her absence, with the assistance of Nurse Ingram. A Nurses' Home is very urgently required, the old cottage now occupied by some of the pupils being too small, inconvenient, and in bad need of repair. It is hoped to build quarters for the nursing staff during the year. Eleven pupils have been trained, and 9 are now in training. .Vote by Medical Officer. —Among the infants then- were 12 premature, varying from six months and a quarter to eight months; in addition there were 6 born at eight months and a half, these scarcely coming under the term " premature." Two of the premature ones were stillborn from ante-part urn haemorrhage, 4 died, 2 of them being born at six months and a quarter, and 2 at seven months. The other 6 premature children lived and throve. One child born at full term had congenital atresia of the intestines, was operated on at the general hospital on the fifth day, but died. Two of those still-born had died beforehand, no movement having been felt for three days. Labour was therefore induced by pituitrin. —Emily YV. Siedeberg, M.8., Ch.B. St. Helens Hospital, Auckland. During the year from the Ist April, 1913. to the 31st March, 1911, 176 eases were confined and 175 children were born alive. There were two still-births. There were no maternal deaths and no deaths of infants. In their own homes 211 patients were attended, and 241 children were born alive. There were no maternal or infantile deaths. There is no doubt the Hospital suffered for a time from the inquiry which terminated, with so little to justify its being held, early in 1913, the uncertainty and publicity preventing many women from booking to enter as they otherwise would have done. The old patients continued faithful to the Hospital, and either engaged nurses or entered as in-patients as usual. The matter of a new building has not far advanced. Many sites have been offered and inspected, but it has finally been decided to acquire, if possible at a reasonable price, the next section, on which is a small house now rented for the nursing staff. The present Hospital would be used as a Nurses' Home and administration offices, ami new wards would be erected. It is hoped to proceed with this during the year. Fourteen pupils have been trained, and 12 are noxv in training Dr. Inglis and Miss Ludwig continue in charge, with Miss Broadley as Sub-Matron. Note I)y Medical Officer. —This year has been a successful but uneventful one. The Matron and Sub-Matron have worked conscientiously and well. The number of in-patients was reduced during the early months, due probably to the attacks made on the Hospital- before the inquiry. Fourteen nurses were trained during the year, and of these two failed to qualify. Failures are mostly due to an insufficient primary education, and it would greatly help if a Fifth Standard certificate or proof's of a satisfactory education were required to qualify trainees for admission. Hyocin and morphia were used in Hi primipara, with good results; pituitary extract in 12 selected cases, also with good results. The want of proper equipment for sterilized water, the want of a sitting-room for convalescent patients and a larger nursery are great handicaps to good and satisfactory work. The staff are hoping that the new hospital will soon be commenced. The present site has proved very satisfactory, and if the adjacent allotment could be purchased ample room for building would be secured. 'Iliere have been several venereal cases treated during the year, and in a crowded and inconvenient building it is extremely difficult to treat them with/safety. —Tkacey Inglis, M.8., Ch.B. St. Helens Hospital. Christchurch. During the year from the Ist April, 1913, to the 31st March, 1911, 252 eases were confined and 243 children were born alive. There were 10 still-births. There was 1 maternal death and 3 deaths of infants. In their own homes 82 patients were attended and 80 children born alive. There were no maternal deaths and no infantile deaths. The work of the Hospital has proceeded as usual. The need of a new building is much felt, and at times the accommodation is overtaxed. The lack of proper means of isolation is also a source of anxiety. It has now been decided to proceed with the erection of the new building at the site purchased some time ago at Addington, and an additional piece of land has been acquired which will render it possible to improve the plan prepared before, and for which tenders were called. The plan is now in course of alteration in accordance with the larger area of the site. While a little farther out of town than the present place, the new site will be in the midst of a large number of working-people, and of easy access by tram and train from the people who have used the Hospital so far. Dr. Irving and Miss Cameron are still in charge, with Miss Newman as Sub-Matron. Eleven pupils have been trained, and 11 are now in training. Xote by Medical Officer. —An uneventful year. The only thing worthy of remark is the large number of patients admitted with albuminuria—over 18 per cent. Only 1 out of 45 cases caused any anxiety.— Wm. Irving, M.D. (Cantab.).