Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3159, 3 April 1879, Page 2

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

The usual monthly meeting of the Committee of the above institution.was held^at the Salutation Hotel yesterday afternoon. Present —Mr J. Frater, (President),,Mr W, McG'ullough (Vicepresident), the Revs. V. Lush and Father O'Reilley, Messrs John Wilson, C. Ahier, T.-L. Murray, J. McGowanj W. Da vies, A. Aitken, L. Ehrenfried and M. Mulligan. MINUTES. : . The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. ■ APOLOGIES. Apologies for absence were received from the Rev. S. J. Neill, Messrs Mollhone and Hudson. OLD MEN'S HOME. The President reported that at the conference of the Borough Charitable Aid Committee, and the sub-committee of the Hospital it was resolved to expend the vote of £400 for the Old Men's Home. The sub-cojmmittee had visited the house, and, on the recommendation of Mr E. W. Hollis, decided to move the present buildin'* more into the centre of the allotments, and to erect some additions in front of it. The plans were not yet finished. INBT7BANCE. The President reported that the Hos pital had been insured for £900 in the Norwich Union Company, whose agent had made a donation of £1 Is to the Hospital fands.

HOUSE COMMITTEE'S EEPOBT. The report of this committee was read and adopted.

The Fresident said that as soon as he he_,rd of Dr O'Flaherty's death he called the House Committee together and it was decided to request Dr Payne to take temporary charge till to«day. This Dr Payne had agreed to do, and was now performing the duties of Surgeon. On his death-bed Dr O'Elaherty had made a present of a number of articles such as beds, bedding, etc., to the Institution, and also a money donation of £5. He had expresred his gratitude to the committee for their kindness to him. He, the speaker, had written to Dr O'Flahery's brother informing him his death, and in that had mentioned the presents made by the deceased to the Institution.

The Bey. V. Lush moved, and Mr Murray seconded that the Secretary write to Dr O'Maherty's brother acknowledging the obligations the committee were under to the late surgeon for his present?. Carried.

Mr McCullough said he had great pleasure in moving that Dr Payne be requested to act as surgeon to the Hospital till the annual ejection of officers in June. He said Dr Payne had given the greatest attention to the duties since the death of Dr O'Flaherty, and it was the only correct course open for the Committee to continue Dr Payne in charge till the usual annual election. The motion was carried.

Mr McCullough said while on ihe question of surgeon, he wished to call the

attention of the Committee to the position of the hospital, being at present without an honorary staff. Such a position was not fair to the surgeon in chargo, and was a neglect of duty on the part of the Committee. He moved that Dr Kilgour's name be placed upon the honorary medical staff of the Hospital. He was assured that Dr Kilgour would have pleasure in acting along with Dr Payne in the capacity of hotiorary surgeon. Mr John Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried.

Mr Aitken moved, and Mr McCullough ' seconded, that Dr Eowbottom be requeited to act upon the honorary medical staff. The President and several members stated that Dr Eowbottom had remarked to them that, while willing at any time to assist at the hospital, he did not care to have his name placed upon the staff. The motion was agreed to. teeastjbee's bepoet. The report of this officer was read, and showed that the balance on hand, including Government subsidy, was £713 7s Id. The Secretary staled that he had made application for £502 Government subsidy en the subscriptions and donations received, and had a reply from the Government stating that the voucher for the Government subsidy had been signed, less the pound for pound on patients' charges, on which the Government would not pay a subsidy.

Some discussion on the question of patients'charges took place, but lapsed without a motion. The report was then adopted on the motion of Mr McCullough. HOtTSE BUBGEON's BEPOET. The House Surgeon's monthly report was read as follows :—"Mr President etc. —Sir, —I have the honor to report for the infoimation of your committee that; on Feb. 28, '79, there were remaining in your Hospital 14' patients; that during the past month (from Ist to 31st March) 15 patients hare been admitted and eleven discharged, leaving 17 as tbe present number of its inmates. There has been one death during the month, that of Mrs Paul, from pulmonary consumption. The number of out-patients treated has been ; 68, and the average daily isick among in-: patients is 15 2-31. An analysis of the cases gives the following results:—Zymotic diseases—remained 4, admitted 3, discharged 3, remaining 4; Constitutional —remained 1, died 1; Local—remained 4, admitted 7, discharged 5, remaining 6 ; Developmental'—remained 2, remaining 2; Violent—remained 3, admitted 5, discharged 3, remaining 5 ; total—remained 14, admitted 15, discharged 11, died 1, remaining 11. I cannot close this report without commenting on the great loss the hospital has suffared since your committee last met in the lamented death of your late surgeon, Dr OTlaherty. He was a gentleman in tbe truest acceptation of the word, zealous in the discharge of his duties, having a kind word for everyi one even when most prostrated by the disease which proved fatal to him; possessed of a more than ordinarily wellstored mind, combined with intelligence of no common character. His loss will be felt both in the capacity of friend and physician far outside the hospital walls.— I have, &c, Mabtin H. Payne." ' BESIGNATION. j The Eev. J. T. Hinton wrote resigning his seat on the Committee. The resignation was accepted. ■ ■ . ' ANNUAL MEETING. / ;.. ' : '/'_ \ On the motion, of Mr Murray, the President, Vice-President and Secretary were appointed to draw up the annual report, and it was arranged to have a special meeting to adopt the report, at 7.Sop.m. on next Wednesday fortnight, on which night, at 8 o'clock, the annual meeting will be held. ; The President stated that 'Mr Eowe would give the free use of the Theatre Eoyal for the meeting. * . VOTES. ' i The sum of £2 2s was Toted to Mr Dunn for the use of his room in the Salutation Hotel. A similar sum was voted to each of the auditors.. . \ i

The appointment of the House Com mittee concluded the business. > \