The Express.
London, England, 1849-01-02 00:00:00

MIDDLESEX HOSPITAL.

A special general meeting of the governors of this
charity wee held yesterday in the board- room of the hospital,
to receive the report of the weekly bo.rd upon the alterations
and impros 'meats of the building, and to inspect the new
ward which hoi been erected and endowed by the munificent
bequest ot Lady Anne Elisabeth Murray, called " Sir John
Murray's Ward," and the other new wards, preparatory to
their being opened for the reception of patients. The Hake
of Cambridge presided, and wan yuppie red by an usually
large Demote of the vice-presidents, govemon, and friends of
the institution, including several ladies.
His ROYAL 111OHNIE88, on teeing tee chair, expressed the
gratification he felt upon being called on to preside at a
meeting to celebrate the re-opening of the h.epital. As one of
these who had been most anxious tor improving and increas-
ing the capabilities of the hospital, he couid not but con-
gratulate Aimed% the weekly b .ard, and the governors gene-
rally, on the success of their exertions for that purpose. It
was a coinci fence not to be overlooked, that the re-opening
of the institution had Whit on New Yeses day; and in
wishing all present a happy new year, he might be permit-
ted to express an earnest hope that this would be the com-
mencement of a lug series of prosperous and thriving years
for this charity. Letters were then read from several ut the
via-presidents and governors, including the Bishop of Lon-
don, Mr. J. Pepys, Mr. Mujoribanks, Captain Johnstone,
and others, apologising for non-attendance.
Mr. M. theirs then read the report of the weekly board,
detailing the various alterations and improvements which had
been made (and which were described in the E :press of
Saturday last), and ii. referring particular] y to the Sir John
Murray ward, said it had been erected and endowed for the
reception of 16 patients by the munificent bequest (10,0011),
of Lady Anne Eli,. Murray, relict of the late Sir John
Murray, as the most finial/ memorial to her dimmed hue-
bend. It was somewhat singular that the intimation of this
bequest—by means of which they had been enabled so mate-
rially to add to the accommodation of the hospital—had
come to them the day after they hut decided upon expending
12,000 i. of their funded property in carrying out the plan air
submitted to them by Mr. Wyatt, their architect.
it,. J. HAVILAND BURK., in moving the adoption of the
report, observed that, though the original estimate had been
somewhat exceeded, the original plan having boss extended
and altered in many respects, he believed the was
now inferior to none in the metropolis as mem-
moDation f,r patients and the officers of the einnbildtment,
for ventilation, and all other matters which could teed to
the comfort and restoration of the poor who sought its aid.
He suet, however, remind the subscribers that. in adding to
the accommodation to the extent of 60 beds, the anneal ex-
penditure would be increased, and renewed exertion on the
part of the subscribers would be necessary to maintain the
imtitution in an efficient state. He would remind them
that the rich were quite as much benefited as the poor by
these establishments, in the medical talent they were the
means of calling into 'Matinee.
Mr. Suing, in ascending the motion, called attention to
one great improvement the alterations bad enabled them to
effect—vie., the appointment of sisters, or superintendent
nurse', to each ward. Next to good medical aid, good
nursing was essential to the recovery of perms labouring
entire disease; and this could not be ensured unfree there
was some person to see that the inferior nurses performed
their duties by night as well as by day. This would not
entail any additional expense on the hospital, because, by
another are ngement, the convalescent patients would be
placed in a separate weed, and so the number of night nurses
would be diminished. He wished to draw attention to
another feature of this society—the Samaritan fund,
out of which was provided the means of sending
pathnosto their own homes, alter they were discharged from
; the hospital re cured, and supolyiug teem with clothes,
tlinAel, and other necessaries. To this fund, as well as the
j general hoopital land, he solicited contributions. The hos-