DUNSTAN HOSPITAL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1108, 27 July 1883, Page 4

DUNSTAN HOSPITAL.

The following is Dr Grabham'a report. W Situated about one mile from Clyde, in grounds of about thirty acres, near the river. The building is an old one, ennui i ucted of wood, with an iron roof. It affords accommodation for about 20 jiatients, and at the time of my visit ■was occupied by four men and two women, all of them hospital cases. The two wings of the building contain wards for male patients, one of them (not occupied) being reserved for Chinese, The ward for females is situated to the right of the front entrance, on the other side of which is the “dispensary. A passage divides this portion of tbejbnilding from the Ward man’s two rooms, the kitchen, si ores, coalhouse, and washhouse The building badly requires painting externally, and the large wards (which have boarded walls whitewashed) require renovating. lam told that arrangements are being made for doing this work without delay. [At the time this ■was written, tenders -were accepted for the work and has since been done —the italics are our own.] The wards have sash-windows, ceiling ventilators, and open fireplaces); but are used in winter. It being a hot day, the rooms, which are not lofty, were very warm, but the pat.ents were able to be out side in the open air. Ivon bedsteads are used. These have good ifftr-aw palliasses; and [beds and pillows filled with winnowings, good red and white counterpanes, ; and very clean sheets and blankets were on each bed. There was also plain and suitable ward furniture, and a number of books and papers. The dispensary is large and well stocked with drugs and a fair supply of surgical instruments. I here examined the prescription book, which is well kept, and also a very well ar ranged store book, which is balanced and submitted to the Committee monthly. All accounts are checked by the Medical Officer and Wardsman, and afterwards by the Committee. There is a good register of patients and books relating to paying patients : £1 ICs per week is charged to subscribers, and £2 2s to non-subscribers. The only inventory kept relates to surgical appliances. No diet-scale is in use. The Committee meets once a month, and visit once or twice a week, There is a fair kitchen, with suitable fittings and crockery. No scullery exists. Connected by a sort of passage with the wards at the ends of the building are water-closets, which are only used in emergencies, earth closets being provided at a distance from the Hospital. Liquid ■drainage runs into the river. Solid matters are buried. Rain-water is used for drinking ; a supply for other purposes is obtained from a small race. There is a small detached building for a mortuary, and a suitable detached residence and a stable lor the Medical Officer, who seems to pay much attention to his duties. The patients seemed to be made very comtortable, but the construction of the building gives it a somewhat dull and gloomy appearance. It is evident, however, that those who have the management make the best of the present arrangements. Good order and cleanliness prevailed. The soil of the estate is very dry and poor, but a portion is under cultivation, and has a fair crop of potatoes; the remainder is utilized for pasture. 7th February, 1883,