Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-02-10 00:00:00

ST. ANNE'S DISPENSARY AND EYES AND EAR

INSTITUTION

The annual meeting of the subscribers to this charity
was held at the Board room of the Institution,. yesterday
afternoon, for the purpose of receiving the Treasurer's
accounts for the past year, and for electing a committee
for the present year. The Mayor W. Preston, Esq., pre-
sided. There was a good attendance of the subscribers
present.
The - President called upon the secretary, Mr. J.
Kitchen, to read the, annual report. which was as
follows

. .
" The committee of the St. Anne's Dispensary and Eye
and Ear Institution, in submitting a report of its proceed-
ings for the past year, are happy in being again able to
congratulate the subscribers and donors on its continued
usefulness and prosperity. The former has been shown
by the increasing calls which have been made upon its
resources by the class for whose benefit it was especially
institued, and the latter by a new feature in its financial
contributions, which will be more fully referred to in a
subsequent part of this report.
" The cases prescribed for and seen at, their residences
'amount to 12,851 ; whilst the surgical -cases continue as
heretofore to form a large portion of these, some of
which were of a very serious and important haracter,
requiring the highest skill and care on the part of your
medical staff. _ _ -

" The Eye and Ear Department of the Institution
continues to receive a large number of applicants for relief.
The following table -will give some idea of the progress
and utility of this institution,' and of the important and
arduous duties of the medical staff, viz. :

TEAR. PATIENTS. EXPENDITURE
'
1849 '' 4,005 £417 19 3
1856 ' 9,000 ' 456 15 7
1851 9,200
1852 9,283
,
'1853 9,610 • 393 15 6
1854 11,04- 606 5 5
1855 11,310
1856 12,325
1857 12,515 ' ' 509 13 0
.1858 12,851

" The number of deaths during the year have been 320 ;
average age 14 years and 11 months; being one death in
every 41 patients relieved at the institution. This, how-
ever, is important in a sanitary point of view, as compared
with the year 1853, when the rate of mortality was then
as low as 13 -Years and 9 months.

" The income of the institution for the same period has
been as follows :

SUBSRIPTIONS. DONATIONS. TOTAL.
1849 .... £126 4 6 .... £239 13 0 .... £415 7 6
1850 .... 185 19 6 ... 195 12 8 331 18 6
1851 .... 205 12 155 11 8 .... 391 4 Oi
1852 .... 203 16 6 .... 333 13 1 .... 537 11 7
1853 .... 202'11 9 .... 268 11 7 .... 371 3 4
1854 .... 208 14 3 .... 194 2 402 17 11
1855 .... 256 11 0 .... 231 11 3 .... 438 2 3
1856 .... 251 0 3 .... 281 18 6.. 531 18 9
1857 .... 258 12 5 .... 260 17 11 .... 513 10 4
1858 .... 257 18 9 .... 378 5 10 .... 636 4_7_

" In the last year's report, your attention was called to
the number of accidents brought to the doors of the
institution. These still continue in the same large pro-
portion to the cases otherwise admitted;. and your
committee, therefore, again avail theinselves of this
renewed opportunity of pressing upon the subscribers and
others contributing to the funds of the institution, the
importance of enabling them to appoint a Junior House
--non, so as to secure at, all times the rofesence of an

officer duly qualified to deal with such cases. Your
committee, therefore, indulge the pleasing hope, .that
in their next report, they will be enabled -to state that
this most important addition has been made to their
ordinary staff.

"In dose connection with this subject, or rather in
forming an essential element to its full and proper out-
going is, that also last year referred to—the erection of a
few beds in the dispensary. Some of the cases are so
dangerous in their character, that the hazard of remov-
ing them, even to the nearest hospital, is so great as to be
attended with the most serious effects, independent of
the time which is lost and the prolonged suffering which
is entailed, which would be avoided if the dispensary
possessed such means of accommodation. It is net meant
by this to alter the original character of your institution
from a dispensary, but chiefly to afford in extreme and
emergent cases, such temporary aid as would shorten
suffering, and sometimes, perhaps, secure the continuance
of life itself. _

"Looking forward to this important addition to our
present means of usefulness, your committee and the
hononary surgeons have carefully examined the house at
present occupied by the Dispensary, and they were obliged
to come to the conclusion that it can hardly be made
available for the purpose. They have, therefore, put
themselves in the way of hearing of any house in the
same locality, which could be had on moderate terms,
which would be suitable for all the ordinary requirements
of the institution, and also be made available in the
event of your committee being sanctioned and enabled
by you to carry out this arrangement. It, therefore,
gives them pleasure to be able to state that such a house
. . . .

I's at present to be had in St. Anne-street, which, with
ample accommodation, they believe can be obtained on
very moderate terms. They, therefore, beg to call the
serious consideration of the subscribers towards so impor-
tant an object.
"An impression has prevailed in some portion of the
public mind, as well even amongst members of the
medical profession, that this institution, and others of a
kindred nature, wore often resorted to by those whose
means of securing for themselves medical attendance and
relief were very different from that of the class for whom
it is intended. Your senior honorary surgeon, Mr.
Harris, for some time kept a series of statistical tables
of every particular, as far as practicable, connected with
the condition and history of those who applied to him for
medical aid ; and from these he has come to the con..
elusion that, although there may occur—as, indeed, in
every other human institution —instances not coming
within the direct intention of the subscribers, its benefits,
as a whole, are confined to its contemplated objects.
" The sum yielded during the past year by the penny
contributions amounts to £l2O 4s I Id, a sum important
in itself, and going seine way towards the support of the
dispensary; this yoar committee regard as an increased
proof of the soundness of the principle which led them
them, four years ago, to introduce it. It originated with
themselves, and its adoption by other similar institutions,
with similar results, is an additional evidence of its pro-
priety and beneficial tendency. The sum is so small as
not to be beyond the means of the poorest ; aad whilst it
contributed sensibly towards the support of the charity,
it exerts, they conceive, a more important influence
over the minds of the patients by depriving it of any
pauperizing tendency, which continuous charitable aid,
however wisely administered, has often a tendency to
produce.
" Your committee have great pleasure in announcing,
that the recently-adopted method of conducting the
elections for honorary surgeons by voting papers, instead
of the former one of canvassing, &c., has been found to
work most satisfactorily. By it the electors and the
candidates have been alike freed from an annoying and
troublesome practice, and in almost all cases most dis-
tasteful to the latter ; whilst the interests of the institution
kave rather been advanced than otherwise by the change,
and to its superiority over the former modes of
election the unsuccessful candidates have borne the
most unqualified testimony. During the past year a new
feature (as has been already adverted to) has been added
to the ordinary modes of contributing to this charity, by
no fewer than four legacies, amounting in all to £l7O,
having been bequeathed to its resources. They regard
this with no ordinary satisfactiori, and trust that it will
only be the commencement of a series of similar dona-
tions towards the continued usefulness of so praiseworthy
an object as alleviating the distresses of so large a class
as the poor, though we believe not forgotten portion, of
our fellow creatures.
"To the ministers of religion who have during the past
year, as on former occasions, so cheerfully and liberally
by their collections contributed to your funds, your com-
mittee beg to tender their warmest thanks.
" Since our last annual meeting, the institution has
suffered by the death of Mr. Gilbert, one of its earliest
most zealous, and benevolent supporters.
" Your committee would conclude this report by
recording their entire approbation of the manner in
which your honorary medical officers have discharged
their most onerous and important duties. These gentle-
men, amidst the calls of extensive and private practice,
have ever been found ready also to those of humanity and
kindness, to carry into ,the homes of the desolate and
afflicted those skilful appliances and cheering influences,
which under any circumstance are so grateful and
consolatory. They have ever been and will ever continue
to be the most liberal contributors to the charity. We
and you can only leave them to that highest of all human
rewards—that of a justly approving conscience."
From the report of the Treasurer, it appeared that the
income of the institution was £717, with a balance due to
the treasurer of upwards of £4O.
Mr. Middlehurst moved the adoption of the report,
which was seconded by Mr. Curry, and duly carried.
Mr. Woodruff moved a vote Of thanks to the medical
officers for their services during the past year.
Mr. Haydock seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously. . .

Votes of thanks was then passed to the president, vice-
president, and committee, for .the past year, and a similar
vote was also passed to the ministers of religion, who had
advocated the claims of this charity.
Mr. Barton, then, in very suitable and eulogistic terms,
proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Kitchen, for his great
exertions on behalf of the institution, and hoped he
might long continue to exercise these services.
Mr. Watt briefly seconded the motion, which was
unanimously adopted.
Nitc:l49 returned thanks lii a.uit4l4lo language,

expressing the pleasure he felt at rendering his
assistance to snick a charity, which, since his establish-
ment, had been the means-of relieving no less than 90,000
patients.
The officers and committee for the ensuing year were
then appointed, after which Dr: Hume; proposed a vote
of thanks to the Mayor• for his kindness in presiding at
the meeting.
Mr. Woodruff seconded the motion, which was carried
by acclamation.
The Mayor briefly returned thanks, after which the
meeting separated.