Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-02-15 00:00:00

ST. ANNE'S DISPENSARY.

The annual meeting of the governors of this dispen-
sary was held in the Board-room of the Institution,
Rose-hill, his Worship the Mayor presided. Amongst
those present were Thomas Barton, Esq., vice-chairman,
Joseph Kitchen, Esq., treasurer and honorary secretary,
the Rev. Mr.• Twist, Rev. Drs. S. Taylor and Harris,
Messrs. Mcßride, Brown, bed, Harrison, Middlehurst,
Watt, Fraser, Manger, Schrader, and Steble.
The SECRETARY read the following report :
During the year, 12,488 cases have been admitted and pre-
scribed for, many of whom have been visited at their own resi-
dences ; and the surgical cases continue to form a large pro-
portion of these, involving operations of a serious nature,
amongst which were those of stone, tumors of various kinds,
deformity of limbs, cataract, &c., &c., which are well known
to involve thehighest skill and care, thus evincing the high
proficiency on the part of your medical officers.
The Eye and Ear Department of the Institution continueB as
heretofore to be resorted to by a considerable number of appli-
cants suffering under those ailments which, in their walk of
life, exert so powerful an influence in preventing them, when'
otherwise able, from following those avocations on which their
maintenance and that of their families, depend.
The number of deaths during the year has been 266, giving
an average of,ixteen years and three months, being one death
out of every forty-seven patients prescribed for at the institu-
ion, the institution's experience affords, in a tanitary
point of view, satisfactory and important information.
In the year 1849, there were 4,000 patients, with an ex-
penditure of £417 198. sd., and last year there were 12,448
patients, with an expenditure of £5Bl 4s. 4d. The total in-
come of the institution in the two years above mentioned, was
in 1849, 114.15 75. rd.' in 1859, £598 13s. Id.
The attention of the subscribers was in last year's report
especially directed to the number of accidents brought at all
times and hours to the doors of the institution, and often when
the house'surgeon is absent on his duties of visiting those
patients at their own houses who are unable to come to the
Dispensary. Some of these are occasionally of to serious a
character as to require instant assistance, even while on their
way-to an hospital or otherwise. This could only be accotn-
plished by your committee being enabled to secure the services of
a junior house surgeon duly qualified, so that. at any hour one
efficient medical man at least would be'on the spot to give
even such temporary aid as might in many cases be of the
most vital importance. _ Your committee last year indulged in
the pleasing hope that by this time they would have been
enabled, by your liberality, to have made so important an
addition to their medical staff; such, however, has not been
the case, but they still hope that by increased contributions on
the part of the public, they will next year be able to accom-
plish so de'irable an object. It is not, as formerly stated,
intended by this to alter the character of your institution from,
that of a dispensary, but merely to enable them t‘, meet, if
possible, such cases of sudden emergency as are often brought
for temporary assistance.
The warmest thanks of the committee are again due to those
ministers of religion who have so liberally and cheerfully by
their collections contributed to your funds,
In conclusion, your committee would beg most earnestly to
rail the attention of the subscribers to the importance of "en-
deavouring to enable them to carry out the suggestions which
have been submitted to them in the earlier part of this report,
and so to increese, rather than otherwise, the operations of an
institution -which has already been the means of alleviating
the sufferings of so large, and too often unsympathised with.
portion of our fellow-creatures.
Councillor Ntexsox said he had much pleasure in
moving " that the report now read be adopted, printed,
and circulated among the subscribers." It could not be
otherwise than gratifying to the friends of the institu-
tion to observe that, notwithstanding the constant in-
I creased demands of the public sympathy upon it, it had
been able to go on in the same prosperous way, and that
their respected treasurer and secretary had been able to
themso satisfactory a statement of its affairs.
(Applause.) During the past year the number of cases
relieved had amounted to no less thin 12,488. It was
only when they reflected upon the serious deprivations
and bereavements inseparably associated with such an
accumulated mass of suffering humanity, that they were
able to estimate the value of an institution like this.
Mr. MANGER seconded the resolution, which was passed
unanimously.
The Rev. Mr. TWIST had much pleasure in moving—
" That the warmest thanks of the meeting be presented
to the honorary medical officers for their devoted zeal in
the discharge of their duties during the past year."—
Seconded by Mr. Middlehurst, and carried unanimously

Dr. S. TAYLOR moved, That the thanks of this
meeting be given to the ministers of religion who have,
in their respective pluses ofworship, supported and
advocated the cause of this charity."—Seconded by Mr.
Dod, and likewise carried.
Mr. HAYDOCK moved, " That the best thankS of this
meeting be given to the subscribers and donors for the

valuable support given by them to the charity during
the past.year."—Mr. Frazer seconded the resolution. ~
Dr. HARRIS moved " That the best thanks of this
meeting be given to Wm. Preston, Esq., late president ;

_ .
T. Barton, Esq., vice-president; John Woodruff, Esq.,
and E. D. Crosthwaite, Esq., auditors ; E. Watt, Esq.,
and G. Ford, Esq., visitors, and to the committee for

their constant and unwearied attention to this charity,"
Mr. SCHRADER seconded the resolution, which was
also carried.

Mr. BARTON said that it would be an exceedingly im-
portant omission, if, after reading the report, they did
not propose a vote of thanks to their honorary secretary
and treasurer. (Applause.) He had cause to allude
before to the valuable services rendered by Mr. Kitchen.

He was proud to have had the honour of working with
him in his capacity of vice-president, and he could assure
them that had it not been for Mr. Kitchen the institu-

tion would not have been in the prosperous condition it

now was. (Applause.) lie had therefore much pleasure
in moving, "That the best thanks of the meeting be
given to the honorary secretary and treasurer for his

valuable services to the institution."—Seconded by Mr.
Crosthwaite and unanimously agreed to.
Mr. KITCHEN said he did not expect that such a reso-
lution would have been proposed, not being on the pro-
gramme of the proceedings, and he was therefore taken
somewhat by surprise. Hef assured them that he re-
ceived the vote with a great deal of pleasure and grati-
tude. To assume to himself for one moment the credit
of conducting the inspection in the manner it had been
spoken of, would be an assumption which be would not
for a 'moment assume ; because he considered the suc-
cess of an institution like this mainly depended upon the
action of the committee. He took this opportunity of
returning uis sincere thanks for their assistance during
the eleven years which the institution had 'existed.
Mr. BARTON proposed the committee of management
for the ensuing year, which was agreed to.
Mr. KITCHEN then proposed a vote of thanks to the
Mayor, who had not only subscribed liberally to the
funds of the institution, but who had on all occasions
expressed the greatest anxiety for the welfare of the
' institution, and his wish to assist it in every possible
way.—Passed neat. con.
The MAYOR said he begged to thank them for the
very kind vote of thanks they had just passed. He
accepted the invitation of the committee to preside
on the present occasion with the greatest pleasure.
He was at the same time desirous of taking the
opportunity of thanking them for himself as well
as for the managers of the Industrial Schools for

their great liberality to that institution--having
for several years dispensed medicine to it without
any charge. This institutions was now so well known
awl so well supported, and the report so fully explained
the benefits to be derived from it, that it could require
no advocacy to commend it to the public sympathy and
support. (Applause.) The town had now so much
increased, not only in extent but in population, that the
necessity for having a central Dispensary was now pretty
fully acknowledged. lie hoped the committee would
receive such support from the public as would enable
them•to:accomplish the object they had in view-L--yro-
viding • accommodation for cases of severe injury.
(Applause.)
This terminated the proceedings.