Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-15 00:00:00

REPORT

The steady progress of the Liverpool Children's Infirmary,
during the past and eighth year of its existence, although it does
not enable your committee to startle you with any statements of
its miraculous advance, yet fully justifies them in congratulating
the supporters of this interesting Institution on its healthy con-
dition at present, and on its promising prospects for the future.
During the past year there has been a large increase in the
number of patients. No less than 1,406 children have received
medical treatment for various complaints. The following state-
ment of the number of patients during each year since the com-
mencement, may be interesting :-1851, 657 ; 1852, 1,003 ; 1853,
611 ; 1854, 641 ; 1855, 811 ; 1856, 1,035 ; 1857, 1,130 ; 1858, 1,406.
—Total, 7,254.

Your committee are gratified to find, from this, that they have
not been too sanguine in the expectation they have constantly
expsessed, that the institution would be more highly valued by
those for whose benefit it was established, as soon as the
advantages it offers to poor sick children became more generally
known. The late year was not, on the whole, an unhealthy
one, and therefore an increase of 284 patients represents a cor-
responding amount of confidence among the poor, the more
valuable as, having been gradually yielded, it may be presumed
to be fairly earned. There are now ten beds fully provided for
in-patients, the number of which fluctuates considerably, but
all have been occupied at the same time.
There has been a trifling increase in the amount of annual
subscriptions, viz., £l7l 18s this year, against £169 13s last, and
a considerable addition in the item of donations, principally
arising from legacies, viz., £154 15s 11d, against £4O lis last.
The voluntary contributions of the poor, your committee are
gratified to find, have exceeded those of last year in a greater
proportion than might be expected from the increased number
of patients, viz., £3l lOs 3d, against £27 14s 3d, while the dis-
bursements for the year have been £6 less.

Your committee:observing the growing importance of the
institution, and to provide for probable contingencies in its future
management, have thought it advisable to extend the provisions
of the rules framed during its infancy. They therefore summoned
a general meeting in October last, and proposed the adoption of
a code of regulations based on those by which other hospitals in
the town are governed, and which, after mature deliberation,
were accepted by the meeting, and will be printed with the
.report,

The increased duties at the hospital, and the labour attending
the keeping a correct statistical record of diseases, have ren-
dered the appointment of an assistant medical officer necessary ;
and your committee trust that, by the assistance of Mr. Rowe,
the benefits of the institution will be still more widely extended.
The late matron, having received another appointment at a
distance, your committee have elected as her successor, Mrs.
Gregory, to whose kindness and attention they believe the care
of the little patients may be safely entrusted.
Your committee would desire to repeat their acknowledgment
of obligation to those ladies, who, by personal visits at the Hos-
pital, by reading to the children, and by providing them with
suitable amusements, have done so much to assist and encourage
the matron and nurses in their labours:

And while, on reviewing the progress of the Institution, they
see much cause to be thankful for the support it has received,
they yet, seeing that the ordinary income does not meet the
necessary expenditure, venture to urge upon their friends the
necessity of enlarging its funds, in order to meet adequately the
growing requirements of this great town; and they feel convinced
that in no way can they render better service to humanity, than
by devoting some portion of their time and means to the relief of
those poor little sufferers, who cannot help themselves.
The Chairman said, it would appear from that report,
that the society had progressed satisfactorily, if not
rapidly, and expressed a hope, that the public would
come forward and contribute to such a useful institution.
From the statement of the Treasurer, it appeared that
there was a balance of £6O Bs. ld., and of the total
amount received, £l4O had been donations.
After the usual votes of thanks to the chairman, the
lady visitors, and others, and the re-appointment of the
o mmittee, the meeting separated.