WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1086, 4 July 1873, Page 2

WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL

The annual public meeting to redeive" the reports of the Hospital Committee and officers, was held at the Court House on Wednesday last; Hr Giles in the Chair. The annual reports of the Secretary and Medical officer, and Treasurer's balance sheet, were read and adopted; From the Secretary's report it appeared that it had been necessary tc'h reduce the salaries of the entire stafl. / from the Ist of July, instant, and the Committee suggested to their successors in office, the necessity, in order td further curtail expenses* of amalgamateing the offices of house steward and cook. The subscriptions collected during the past year had fallen off sd much that the amount received had not met one-third of the expenditure* and it had been necessary td obtain advances from the Provincial Treasury upon the vote for the current year. Thus hypothecating the revenue to the extent of £366 6s 2d. The report referred to the necessity thus arising for strenuous efforts to provide means for keeping the institution open. The Medical Officer's report showed a diminution in the number of patients as compared with previous years, attributable "partly to the stationary or diminished population of the neighborhood, and mainly to the fact that the district, so far as adults are concerned, has been less visited with serious illness than usual." Endemic and malarious diseases (such as swamp fever and dysentery, always figuring largely on reports of previous years), were only represented by a single case, and epidemic diseases, current during the year, had principally affected children. The number of patients in the hospital on the Ist of July, 1872, was 6; and 56 cases were admitted during the year, mrking a total of 62. Of these 31 were cured, 8 discharged convalescent, 10 relieved, 3 transferred to Provincial Hospital, 2 made out-pa-tients, 2 left on their own account* and 3 died ; leaving three remaining on the books of the Hospital. The three deaths were due to the following causes : George Keid, pulmonary con; sumption 5 Andrew Smith, disease of the heart; James Campbell, diffused inflammation. The classification of diseases and

[ injuries was as follows: —Fractures, 8; disease and injuries to joints, 3; incised and lacerated wounds, 3 ; contusions, 4 ; sprain, 1 3 abscesses, 2 ; hoemorrhoids<, 1-, cutaneous diseases, 3; disease and injury to brain, 3; functional diseases, 21 ; rheumatism, 8 ; feVei\ 1; debility, 1'; burns, 2 : 'doubtful, 1 Th'e 'cases Were derived from the 'following localities ; Wes'tport, 23 ; Upper B'uller, Immgahua, and Reefton, 18; Addisons, 8 ; Northern Terraces, 7; Beaches, 4; South Spit, 1': unknown, I. The out case's attended Were about 20. The treasurer's report showed a debit balance of £3G6 6s 2d, and funds in hand £8 3d. On adoption of these reports a new 'committee for the current year was appointed, namely, Messrs Bayfeild, Bailie, Ealla, Fisher, 'Gilmer, Graves, Humphrey, Ings, Kerr, Munson, Powell, Stitt, and Whyte. Messrs Humphrey and Whyte being respectively re-elected as Honorary Secretary 'and Treasurer. As district collectors, the following ; gentlemen were appointed : , Addisons, Messrs Bailie, and Powell, Lyell, Messrs Fennell, Eyan, Sloane, and Zala. Caledonian •'and German Terraces, —Messrs Braithwaite, Barrie, Bayfeild, Stitt and Whyte. Giles and Northern Terraces— Messrs Beaton, Graves, Harrison, and Munson. "Westport,—Messrs Falla, Fisher, Gilmer, Humphrey, Ings and Kerr. ■ visiting committee, Messrs Bayfeild, Graves, and Gilmer were and they were deputed to 'consider'the question of further reductions in the working expenses of the Hospital, in consultation with the Medical Officer, and also the question 'of ways and means for necessary Repairs to the Hospital building. of thanks to the Chair teri__jated the meeting.