THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2507, 18 January 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1877.

We regret that we have not space to publish in full the reports which were read yesterday evening at the annual meeting of the subscribers to the Thames Hospital. As it is we are obliged to content ourselves with giving a brief epitome of what was read. We may, at the outset, state that notwithstanding the depressed state of trade during the past year the affairs of the hospital are in a much more flourishing state than they were at this time last year. Whereas in 1876 there was a Bank overdraft of £70 5s 9d, and only £26 10s 9d in" hand, to meet it, making a deficit of £43 15s; there is this year a credit at the Bank, which, with a small sum of cash in hand leaves the committee £103 14s sd. Nor is this all. There is a Government grant due to the amount of £250, and this added to the above sum, and after making such deductions as are necessary for salaries and general accounts, leaves the Committee the good sum of over £255. to go on with. We congratulate the Committee on the way in which they have carried on affairs, and the thanks of all are due to them. At the same time we would urge on, the public the necessity of keeping the hospital affairs in the same satisfactory state as they are at present, and as the last Provincial grant has been made, though not yet paid, there is .more necessity than ever to exact themselves in keeping up the Hospital to its present state of efficiency. Another subject of congratulation is that the expenditure of the hospital for maintenance has been £107 less this year than last. A subject of congratulation, we say, because the decrease has been the result not of a curtailing of necessary expenses, but because there has- been a lesser number of patients to attend to, which shows that there has been less sickness in the district. We hope that next year's report will] show a like decrease resulting from a similar cause. During the year the hospital has been improved, a verandah added, and gas introduced. The report of the medical officers shows that 181 in-door cases were treated last year as against 266 the year before, and 300 in 1874. And the number of deaths, 17, compared with 24 in the previous year ; three deaths were the result of accidents, of which only one was a mining accident. The medical staff call particular attention to the want of a " home " for those who by disease or accident'are unable to support themselves ; and there is no doubt that this is much required, and we should much like to see the suggestion brought into effect.