THAMES HOSPITAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2079, 2 September 1875, Page 2

THAMES HOSPITAL.

The General Committee of the above institution held their usual monthly meeting yesterday afternoon at the Salutation Hotel, Mary street. W. Rowe Esq., President, occupied the chair, and there were present Revs. J. Hill and Crump with Messrs ifudson, Rensbaw, Frater, Brown, Gudgeon, Macnab, McCullough Bagnall, Mcllhone, Dewar, Davies and Comer.

The minutes, after soqie alterations, of the last meeting were confirmed, and the House Committee's usual report read and adopted. The report stated that by the suggestion of the surgeon a detached room had been erected as a sleeping apartment for the wardsmen. TBEABUBEB'S KKPORT. The Treasurer read his report as follows :—" To cash balance, £14 8s 9d; bank balance, £144 19s lid; subscriptions, £13 16s 6d; donations, £1; patients' charges, £4 4s; amount overbanked, 4s 9d; total, £179 3s lid.—Bysalaries, £52 18s lOd ; maintenance, £78 9s ; medical comforts, £6 5s 10s ; miscellaneous expenses, £1 9s 7d ; commission, £3 16s 6d ; bank balance, £36 4s 2d; total, £179 3s lid. — Liabilities: To amount over-banked, 4s 9d; salaries, £54 10s 4d; general accounts, £86 10s 8d; total, £141 5s 9d. Assets: By bank balance, £36 4s 2d ; Provincial Govern, ment account, £166 13s 4d; total, £202 17s 6d." . ' „ " HOUSE SUE&EOM's BEPOBT. The House Surgeon's report was JEpad and received, It was as follows :—''The state of four hospital during the past month, (August, 1875) -has been as follows : Remaining end of July, 20 ; admitted during August, 23; discharged, 19 ; died, 5 ; remaining end of August, 19 ; average daily in-patients, 23 ; number of out-patients treated, 124. The detached room, the building of which your committee authorised at your last meeting, is not yet completed, though likely to be so in a few days. It cannot fail to be of much service. There have been difficulties and delay in the carrying out of your committee's wishes respecting the painting and whitewashing of the wards, which were unavoidable, and will be explained to you by the House Committee."

Mr Renshaw drew the attention of the Committee to the prese.nt low state of the funds. For the last few years there had always been sufficient in hand to pay the expenses without drawing the Provincial Government subsidy oftener than once a quarter, but it would be seen that after using the two months' allowance now due, only a balance of about £60 would remain after the accounts as recommended for payment were passed. "He wished the attention of the public *to be called to the position of the funds, and pointed out that the expenditure was now heavier from a variety of causes than it had been, for many months. The increase in the price of provisions together with a larger average of patients had no doubt something to do with the position. The public would therefore see that an increase in their subscriptions would be of the greatest assistance to the committee to enable them to carry out the objects of the institution. .Rev. J. Hill said that the statements made by the Treasurer should lead the Committee at once to take steps to call the'attention of the public to the position of the finances. He would suggest that an address to the public through the Press, should be made by the President. Mr Gudgeon remarked that the large expenditure in papering, painting &c. in the hospital, had something to do in reducing the funds.

Key: j. Hill proposed and Mr Mcllhone seconded that advertisements signed by the President, calling upon the public to increase their subscriptions and otherwise assist in providing funds for the Hospital, be inserted in the newspapers. Carried. A letter was received from Mr Ehrenfried declining to accept a seat on the Committee. Mr Ekrenfried considered the annual election had not been conducted in a proper manner, and if the committee made befcler arrangements for the next annual election he would have muck pleasure in giving his best services to«the institution.

Mr C. Cox was elected a member of tho Committee in the place of Mr Ehrenfried.

Mr Dewar stated he was leaving the Thames and would not again be able to attend the meetings of the Committee; he would therefore tender his resignation.

Several speakers thought that the resignation should' be considered at the next meeting, but upon the motion of Mr Brownj who pointed out Mr Dewar's object of at once resigning was that his place might be filled without any delay, the resignation was accepted and Mr W. Wilkinson elected to fill the vacancy.

A letter was received from Dr Kilgour resigning his position as a member of the medical staff. '

On the motion of Mr Win. McCullough, who regretted that DF Kilgour. should find it necessary to sever his connection with the Hospital, the-resignation was accepted? - The House Committee for the month were^then elected, being Messrs Wilkinson, C. Hill, Frater and Gudgeon. A -vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the business.