The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1874-07-14 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH AND
.r2pßBg. COUNTY ROYAL

"EYE INFIRMARY.The thirty-eighth annual meeting of this most uoeful
institution was held at the new Infirmary. facing the
railway station, on Monday last, when there were pre-
sent --The Rev. T. Greaves, redor of Melcombe Rmiik
In the chair, Dr. Rhodes, the invaluable medical °Meer of
the Institution, Lieut, Col. Steward, Rev. Talbot Baker,
llsptain Burnett, Mr. C. Penny, dc.

COMMITTEZ II WIRT.
The foil report warn presented by the Committee
to the subscribers:—" Your committee, in presenting
their alth annual report, are animated by feelings a/
powuliac pleasure and encouragement. ReviewinflotAl
past history of the Weymouth and Dorset County
Infirmary, and contrasting it with the present position
of the institution, they cannot but be sensible of the re-
markable programsmade In their philanthropic work, and
they desire to express their deep thankfulness that under
God's bleadng the infirmary has been instrumental in
conferring so large an amount of benefit on suffering
humanity. It is a source of gratification to your com-
mittee to know that since the completion of the new
building, the value and efficiency of the Infirmary have
been materially augmented,and they are not unmindful to
whom they have to sacribe this happy condition of affairs,
They remember with unfeigned gratitude that, through
the noble generosity and Christian sympathy of the sub-
scribers, they have been enabled to achieve these gratify-
ing multi, and to ranee the infirmary to so admirable a
degree of usefulness. They can point to the building as •
bright example of that large-hearted charity which is so
distinguishing a characteristic of the present age. They
gratefully acknowledge the extent to which the holy
sentiment has Influenced the hearts and hands of the
friends who have kindly and liberally come forward to
aid them in accomplishing thus much of the great object
embraced by this excellent institution. To those who
have thus promoted the work of mercy and charity, the
reward will be the gracious approval of the Divine Master,
when, at the tut day, He shall say to them" Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my
brethren, ye have done it unto me." Your committee, in
conclusion, while complimenting themselves on the satis-
factory condition of this institution, deem it necessary to
observe that there remains now a debt of £SI 17s. M.,
which is attributed to the large increase of patients dur-
ing the put year, and venture to rely on the liberality of
their friends, both in Weymouth and the county generally,
for additional mid to enable them to liquidate the present
debt, at the same time humbly soliciting a continuance of
the support so universally accorded."

1111DICAL RZPORT,
Dr. Monis laid he had to report that the working of
the institution had been very satisfactory during the past
year. As they would see by the report, they hail a ery
considerable increase in the number of their in-patients,
entailing a very large increase in their expenditure. There
had been admitted (ruin July, 1872, to July, 1974, for
dimmers of the eye 145 in-patienta, and 210 out-patients,
making a total of 455; thaw with 49 remaining on the
books at the last annual meeting made the total under
care 502, a these have been discerned cured, Xtl ;
relieved, 85 ; not relieved, 18; irregular, 12; remaining
under treatment, 55. Total number of patient& admitted
since the opening of the intlrinery, in IRI6-12,230.
Rev. T. BAKER asked what was tie of carrying out
out thaw) continuous arithmetical calculations from year
to year/ It had always been done; but be could not see
the go0:1 of it.
. .

Dc Ruionga scarcely knew. It was • great deal of
trouble • but he supposed it was to bring before the sub-
scribers .the actual statistics of the institution.
The CHAIRMAN said the increase to 115 in-patients was
very considerable.
Rev. T. BAKER noticed a small increase in the out-
patients as compared with the in-patients.
Dr. Estonia suspected there had been a great many
more but many came to Isis house after Eye Infirmary
hours, and he attended to them; but he could not pretend
to make a note of every case. People would come having
some little thing the matter with their eye, and wishing
to be attended at our,, and he generally prescribed for
thein at his surgery.
Rev.?. BAKER agreed that it seemed trouble was dis-
posed of in that way; but it might do the infirmary more
good if the number of their out-patients were swelled by
noting every case.
Dr Mum% said the trains are so excessively incon
venient that the poor peoille could not get here In
infirmary hours.
In conversation it seemed that when the patients came
thus late, the Doctor did not always get the tickets, hut
the patients kept them. But the tickets are only avail-
able for twelve months.

The CaAlaiiax supposed the gist of it all was that it
was very strongly incumbent on them to increase their
funds.

•
-111:71tHoDim said yes: their condition must be brought
forcibly before the county.
Mr. Polar said one great reason of the funds failing
short was that lately they had no collector. He proposed
that Mr. Prinks be appointed permanent collector.
The CHAIRMAN supposed that would be involved in one
of the items of busineu—to elect &secretary. Was it their
pleasure that the report be adopted I
This was agreed to unanimously.
111111SURRICS NTATIMENT.
This report being read, the CHAIRMAN remarked that the
balance against the Infirmary had increased from £170.. 3d
to £5117.. Rd. True there was a sum of for legal
expenses for sale of the obi infirmary which would not
occur agaiu : but still they were much behind. The heavy
item was the diet money; and bread, there was S2OO at
once for that.

iiimpar: And if you come to think of it, it le
wonderfully cheap, conAdering I have bad as inauriza
II or ISt in-patients. You cannot avoid it, i
patients corne fce • few dare, and it is necessary to take
them in.

b—HATIDIAN itliggeited that the fact be brought before
Use county that there is an increased deficiency, and that
the number of in-patients is so very lam that some
restriction may have to
thought
on the admissions.
Colonel Sriewsitn the County Hospital list
should be compared with tof subscribers to the Eye
Infirmary, and many names would be seen on the first
which are not on the Eye Infirmary list.
The CRAIRIIIAN • Yet this is an object for the county,
and It does not in .the least decree clash with the Dorset
County Hospital. This is the only Eye Infirmary in this
county ; in fact I believe in several counties.
Mr. FOOKS being asked, said it was so as to Wilts, Hants.
and Dorset. . . _

Wev7i7lisftett : And Somersetahlre also, I believe.
The account& were paused.
ZIJECTION OF orrocwas.
The next business was the election. The CHAOUILII
read • letter from Mr. .1. W. Maunders, dated 24th Sept,
len, asking that another secretary be appointed, Mr.
Maunders (sea.) having left Weymouth. Another letter
was read from Mr. X rooks, after Mr. Maunders s death,
asking to he appointed secretary.
It was thought most advisable to join the offices of
secretary and collector, and it was found that the
secretary had £5 a year, and the collector £5 per cent, on
monies he collected.

—fie--eqitiui—uTre. marking that there wu only one
candidate, . .

Dr. RllOOl3 said that Mr. Fmk/ had done the work a
grad deal more than the late secretary did, for the hut
three years. Ile had assisted Mr. Maunders.
Mr. PILVNT : You find him an efficient man, don't you.
Dr. Rhodes!
Dr. Ilmoors : most efficient
. . . .

It was then rasolvdnnanimossaly that Mr Fooks "Medd
be appointed secretary and collector at &stipend of a a year
and C 5 per cent. commission.
Mr. rooks was then called in. and informed of the sp-
pointruent, also that owing to the state of the funds, it
was necessary far him to use his utmost efforts to increase
' them.
Mr. Fooks promised to do no.
The state of the funds was again considered, the Chair-
man remarking that, but for Mr. Brooks, donation, they
would he .000 on the wrong side.
Dr. RHODICA suggested that when any of the patient
Wt they might hare collecting cards to gather in their own
parieh.
The CIUIRIIAII thought Dr. Rhodes should draw up a
statement, and make an appeal to the whole of the
counties of Dorset, Wilts, Hants, and tiomenet. and
also compare the subscription list with that of the Dorset
County Fleapits], and ask those who do not to subscribe.
Tlds was agreed upon.
I The enemies asked how many tickets are scut to
subscribers of one guinea!
It appeared that four ticketa are sent, and they may be
used either for in or out patient&
The CHAIRMAN : And thaw sent from a distance are
almost sure to be in-patientig.
Mr. Yvon' said—and yet a wealthy Marl 40 or NO wiles
off would borrow a ticket instead of giving a guinea.
Dr. RUODICII said it was by no means an uncomman
occurrence to get a parson rent down with a ticket and a
P. 0.0. for a guinea. If that person stayed a few weeks,
the Infirmary would soon be at a lees
The CnArianan : Yet you would be better off than now,
because now you NS liable to have • person sent down
with • borrowed ticket and without the guinea. think
any clergyman of • parish may send in a_petient. and I
*ink that yule ought to be altered. The Dorset County
Hospital on lv give one or two tickets for a guinea.
Th. Rey. T. Began said any perish which had benalitted
during the year by the institution should have • circular
pint round to Its inhabitants asking for help.
A letter was read from Bishop's Foothill. saboan.„
which little Wiltshire parish was sending three patients
In one rear. The subscription from it is LI
The coanalue thought an appeal for help should be
sent with the report
This was agreed on.
me Cu= also suggested that only the out-door
octet. be for ea* 'nelf-gumea subsaiption, and
two in-door sad two tatt-cloor *tots for each guinea sob-
. .
ocription.

PENCIL
The CIIIIII3ILN called attention to the fact that the Rye
Infirmary had put up no fence or wall between the

Church Committees land sad what the Eye Infirmary
had bought.
Dr. EllOngs did not know it was their duty : he thought
it should he a joint affair.
The Nunn is said It was no object to the Church
Committee to have a boundary wall. But it would be an
object for the Eye Infirmary, becalms a schoolroom was
about to be put up, and if there were no wall the children
would be running into the Eye Infirmary s ground. if
they purchased a piece out of a man's field they would
have to put the fence and not the seller.
Ittiongs thought • paling would do.
The CHAIRMAN said the quo%tion was what the paling
was to cost. There WRA no doubt in law that the obliga-
tion to fence was on the purchaser.
Mr. PENNY :But will you kindly undertake in considera-
tion of our poverty, to put up the fence.
The CH/MAHAN oaid: Unfortunately there WM poverty
on both sides. The Church committee would not have
any money to spare.
Hr. Itimags spoke of a newer to which he hail referred
before. There was so annual Hospital Sunday kept in
Wm mouth. Now in London as a rule 'nout of the
charitable institutions were included in the benefit% of a
thing of this sort. He thought the Eye Infirmary should
have some of the (enaction on Hospital Sunday.
' The CHAIRMAN WM t &WHIMS that funds thould Im
found; but he thought it would be most suicidal to pro-
ruin that the collections on Hospital Sunday *tumid be
diyided between the two Irostitutions.
. .

_ ..... -
—Dr. RHotiLs did not moan equally ; hut only that the
Eye Inthinary should have a portion.
The CIILIKSIAN said it even • Dorti“n were handed over
to this Institution, they would have no ground to go to
the churches and ask for a collection.
_ . .

-
Dr. Ratouss said they had .Cd from Trinity church. and
LT from St. Mary's church; that was the wlaole coutri.
billion from Weymouth.
. _ . . . . . .

Mr. I'Elrr .d.;it:il-jar. 'a church ought to give the Eye
Infirmary LID or .f. 50.
The iiRSAN : If you will go there owl give .1;:31, no
doubt the congregation will meet yen.
Dr. ItliOncs said there were various chapels joining in
the movement, of which the Eye Infirmary friend*
heard nothing. He thought it a misnomer to call the
Sunday "Hospital Sunday." when one of the lutirmoriea
was excluded.

The CHAIRMAN Raid the question was Whether they
would be justified in calling the Eye Infirmary a Hospital.
It was quite obvious that if any division of the funds were
made, they would simply have to take different steps to
supply their want,. With the exception of St. John's all
the town churches had helped the Eye Infirmary; but he
was afraid the funds of the other Institution were much
in the elm° trouble as they were here. Their position
was simply this—they had built two large institu-
tions and therefore had immensely increased their
expenditure ; but they had not immediately increased their
subscriptions.
Mr. PENNY : Weymouth is increasing fast.
The Chem* ts : But lam afraid the wealth of Wey-
mouth is not increasing very fast It is a question yet
whether this plan of a Hospital Sunday is going to
succeed; I don't think it will ; In London it is going
down. Where there is any division it will not pay;
almost every institution is dissatisfied with the division
and thinks it ought to get a little more, and the special
friends of each institution do not like the plan, and are not
putting forward all the effort they could. It has fallen
immensely this year.
Rev. T. Bekaa: Yet at Birmingham. where they started
it, it goes on and flourishee
The CHAIRMAN: Yea, at Birmingham there is that one
Institution of which they are immensely proud, and it
goes on successfully, because there is no division. Ax far
as St. Mary's church is concerned, I should be very glad to
have a collection.
Mr. Passr then moved a vote of thanks to Dr. Rhodes,
surgeon, which was seconded by Col. Stgwean, and carried
unanimously.
The Chelan ts said they should work up the funds
again, if they put their shoulders to the wheel, and looked
hopefully at the work.
A vote of thanks was also given to Dr. Fox, to Mr.
Baker, surgeon dentist, to the ladies who had visited the
patients and entertained them, to the proprietors
of the Bathing Machines, to the Treasurer, and other
officers.

-137r.--ilimon remarked that there had been a slight
sinking of the foundation.
The CHAIRMAN said it was fortunate that this building
and the new Church had not fallen into the street. The
town's people opened an immense sewer, which west
below the concrete foundation, and left it open for a
4ortaight, and the tide washing to and fro occasioned a
'settlement of the new church, sAd also of this building.
Rev. TALBOT BAKER asked was there any connection
between the eyes and the teeth.
Dr. Rnooss said very often people had bad eyes purely
from having bad teeth.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman was passmi and the
meeting closed.