ALCOHOL IN HOSPITALS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 473, 21 May 1890, Page 2

ALCOHOL IN HOSPITALS.

A comparison of the amount, ami cost of alcohol consumed in ho-mitßs now and a quarter of ja century ago was read the other night ..to a meeting of the British Medical Temperance Association held under.the presidencyjof Dr Richardson. v The comparison was made in a report signed by “ T. Morton, M.D;, John Moir. L.U.C.P., and Walter Pearce, M.D,” In seventy-three hospitals the total average cost of alcohol per bed had decreased by L7B 8s sd, or 47 per cent., In King’s, Collette Hospita the expenditure on alcohol per bed per. annum -had had gone down from L 7 14s Id in 18G8,to £1 8s 8d in 1888, and in St. Mary’s Hospital from £5 19s 2d in ISGSkto L2 OsGd-in l SS-S ; and at the other end of the scale, in the Royal Cornwall Infirmary, from 10s 5d per bed per annum in ISGB tn 8s Gd in 1888 ,; a'nd iii the Sunderland and Bishopsweannouth Hospital and Dispensary from Ll 7s Gd in 18G8 to 4s 4d in 1888. Only eight hospitals were reported -as showing an increase in the cost of alcohol, and the increase was small excepting in the case of the North Herts and South Bedfordshire Infirmary and in the Stanley Hospital, Liverpool. In the former the cost rose from Ll 18s lid in 1808 to L2 llsGd in 1888. In the latter the cost sprang np from 7s 3d to 19s Gd. The London Fev.-r Hospital has reduced its alcohol bill from L‘3 os per bed to' 15s od, and has greatly increased its niiik bill. Tin’s fact is commended to the notice of other hospital authorities.