Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.

The annual report of the friends and subscribers to
this institution was held at the Clarendon ROOMR yes-
terday afternoon, the Mayor, T. D. Anderson, presiding.
Mr. J. P. CAMPBELL, the honorary secretary, read
the following report :

In presentilig the annual report of the Eyand Ear Infirmary,
the committee desire to glance back for a moment to the origin
of the institution, and remind their friends and subscribers
that, during forty years, it has maintained its place among the
public charities of the towt, and held on its successful course
from a small beginning to its present honourable position of
wide and acknowledged usefulness. During' this long period
it has, of course, had various difficulties to contend with ; and,
in common with Other institutions supported by volunta y
subscription, has more or less participated in the ebb and flow
of the commercial prosperity of this large town. Thanks,
however, to the zeal and assiduity of those who formerly
guided the affairs of the institution, and to the skill and
success of previous medical officers, all obstacles have been
overcome, and the. Eye and Ear Infirmary has taken its place
as second to no institution devoted to a similar purpose in any
provincial town.
The presept committee can safely affirm their, earnest desire
to promote and maintain the efficiency of the institution in
all its departments; and they 11 tve full confidence in the emi-
nent qualifications of the medical officers to discharge with
success their important duties, and to sustain to the utmost
the reputation of the infirmary.
• The total number of eye cases treated at the infirmary, from
its commencement to the close of the present year, amounts to
the large sum of 100,935. The number of ear cases, dating
June 1, when this department was united to the other, is
18,280.

In this vast array, including almost every (oral of disease to
which these important organs are respectively subject, and in-
volving every age of human life, from earliest infancy to far
beyond the three score and ten, there have not been wanting
numerous cases of deepest interest. Many have been rescued
frbm the danger of impending blindness, and others enabled
to see who either had not previously enjoyed that blessing, or
by the inroads of disease had foe a season been deprived of it.
How many individuals and households must have been
gladdened by the aid which your institution, in both of its
departments, was thug eaabled to bestow, and how many have
been saved, both in youth and old age, from becoming a burden
to themselves, their friends, .or the parish.
The committee refer with pleasure to the subjoined state-
ment of cases treated during the present year, and earnestly
hope that your continued liberality will enable them to dis-
pense, as widely as heretofore, the benefit which the Eye and.
Ear Infirmary confers upon the poorer clas.ies of the com-
munity.

The number of new cases entered -upon the books of the
infirmary is as follows

Eyes. Ears. Total

4,926 ... 1,576 ... 6,502
Number of cases
,preseribed for,
and who have received medical 19,568 ... 6,922 ... 26,490
and surgical assistance,
Number of patients who have oe- 1
cupied beds in the infirmary,• i 109 It ••• 109

219 operations of importance .ve been performed besides 370
of a minor character, as the removal of particles of metal,
st'ne, &c., from the eyes.

Of the principal operatiOns there have been performed—
In Cataract llO

„ Artificial pupil 22
„ The removal of polypi from the ears, pterygium,
entropium. ectropium, tumours in the eyelids, 87
haevi, &c., &c

It may be mentioned in conclusion, as showimr the amount
of wort done at the Infirmary, that the average daily attend-
ance of patients is 85.
Mr. J. G. LiviNGsToNE, the honorary treasurer, read
the statement of accounts, which showed- that the
balance in hand was £4B 7s. lid. The accounts had
been audited by Mr. William Langton, and proved
correct.

.The CHAIRMAN said--Following the example of my
predecessors, I have with pleasure accepted the invitation
of the• committee to take the chair on this; occasion at
the annual meeting of your excellent institution, ,the
Eye and Ear Infirmary. As this institution is one of
the oldest in the town, having existed as you have heard
by the report, for the last forty years. lam sure it will
be quite unnecessary for me either to allude to its objects
or to its operations. Its name sufficiently declares its objects,
and some idea may be kmed of its operations by whatyou
have heard stated in th report, that since its commence-
ment 100,934 cases connected with the eye have been dealt
with, and that since the cases connected with the ear have
been joined to those of the eye, 2,286 cases have been
dealt with ; and that, during the present year, no less
than_ 33,101 have been placed upon the books of the
institution. If the loss of sight is one of the greatest,
if not the greatest privation that man is liable. to, an
institution dealing with diseases of the eye is entitled to
'special consideration and support; and when it is remem-
bered that the cases which this institution relieve are
those of the working class who could, not afford to pay
for medical relief, it strengthens the claim that this
institution has to public support. I don't think it will be
necessary to say more in its behalf. I have been asked
to bring before the pUblic the small amount of subscrip-
tions. The total expenses of the institution, I believe,
are about £l,OOO a year, and the subscriptions now-
amount only to about £3OO a year, so that'it is in some
measure dependent upon what is precarious—the amount
of donations and legacies received during the year; and
it would be very • satisfactory to the committee if the
subscription list was considerably increased. (Applause.)
Dr. TAYLOR, in Toying the adoption of the report,,
said there could be no doubt that a very large amount
of good was affected by this institution, at a compara-
tively small cost.
Dr. NEVINS seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
Mr. LIVINGSTONE, in moving the thanks of the
meeting to the Corporation for its donation of £lOO,
and to the 'other donors to the institution during the
year, announced that the Mayor had very handsomely,
presented them, with £25. (Applause.) It had been
remarked that all our Liverpool charities were supported
by about 2,000 individuals, but he intended to break
new ground, and to see if he could not, during the next
year, increase the list of subscribers to this institution.
dr. CANIPEELL seconded the motion, which was
agreed to.
The MAYOR said, had not Mr. Livingstone been in his
place in the Council on a recent occasion to give an
explanation of the operations of this institution, it was
very likely that the annual donation from the Corpora-
tion of £lOO might have been withdrawn. (Applanse.)
Votes of thanks were passed to the president and
committee, and to thd medical officers, who were re--
elected.

. - A vote of thanks to the Mayor was carried by
acclamation. _

The CHAIRMAN, in acknowledging the compliment,
said he felt it his duty, in the position in lixhich he was
placed, to encourage in every way he could the public
charities of the town. It gave him always great pleasure
in his private capacity to do se ; but he considered, also,
that 'he was bound in his official capacity, if it were the
I.wish of the committees of 'the local charities, to assist
them. Ile had very great pleasure in being there that
day to hear such an admirable report of -this excellent
institution. (Applause.)
The meeting then broke rep.

•The Emperor of Austria has, according to the Weekly
Register, sent to the Pope a gift in money equivalent to
£6,000. Queen Christina has also heen liberal with
her purse, and the King of Bavaria promises several
•thousand volunteers ready armed and equipped,