The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-21 00:00:00

St. Thomas's Hospital.

The governors of St. Thomas's Hospital made th.r it an-
nual inspection of the temporary hospital at the Garrey
Gardens yesterday morning, after which they adjourned to
the London-bridge Railway Hotel, where a genen d court
was held ; Alderman Sir John Musgrove in the clit Lir.
The minutes of the last meeting having been read and
confirmed,

Mr ADAMS rose, in pursuance of a notice givea at the
last meeting of the court, to call the attention of the gover-
nors to several matters affecting the internal economy of the.
hespital. He would first notice the very great disproportion
of the medical and surgical staff to the number of patientes
as compared with other hospitals. For example, Guy"e
Hospital contained 600 beds, and their annual surgical e,r.d
medical expenses amounted to £2,003, while their own, for
only 200 beds, were no less than £3,000. As, however, the
occupying of a new•site would no doubt make a great alte-
ration in this respect, by increasing the number of b ads to
their proper quantity, he would not do more than call their
attention to the facts he had stated. He would now. come
to the extravagant allowances furnished at the expense of
the charity to their apothecary, Mr Whitfield, who during
the last year had had supplied to him 912 gallons of Barclay
and Perkins's porter and 36 tons of coal. In 1813'24 from
Sept. 22 to Jan. 29, be had received 16 tons of coal, or at
the rate of 48 tons per annum ; and from Jan. 2 to March
31, 16 tons, being at the rate of 64 tons a year. All these
quantities were far beyond the requirements of any private
gentleman. He thought these allowances ought to be
discontinued, and a fair increase of salary guested instead.
Their steward at present had a salary of £4.00, and £35 for
coals and beer, He regarded Mr Whitfield as the best
paid official in Europe. He was in the receipt of £5OO
a year salary, besides £5O from the Nightingale Fund, and
8 per cent, on the receipts from pupils. In addition to all
this, he had a house and the extravagant allowance he
had mentioned. Being so well paid, they would naturally
lexpect the greatest vigilance and activity in looking after
the interests of the hospital. From the facts ho was about
to bring forward they would be enabled to see if Mr Whit-
field had done his duty in this respect or Lot. During the
last year the patients had been supplied with no less than
1,333 dozen of sodawater and lemonade. Dosing the past
year 600 patients at Guy's only consumed 260 dozen.
Those beverages were only used by fever patients, who con-
stituted only a mall portion of the inmates of the hospital,
and he considered it impossible for them to consume 16,000
bottles of eedaweter in 12 months. In the wine, brandy,
and gin accounts there were serious deficiencies. In wino
95 gallons in 655 gallons, in brandy 17 in 147, and in gin 5
in 72. These deficiencies could not, be accounted for by loss
in deawing off small quantities, Ile did not tl:z:nk that atter
laying these figures be.fore them the:- would y that this
gentleman had looked after their interests. He now came
to the accusation made by Mr Whitfield to the Charity
Commissioners, that the hospital did not supply thcirpatienta
with the best drugs. The speaker then made several other
accusations against ,Mr Whitfield, and concluded by sug-
gesting that a committee of seven governors be aepointed to
inquire into the matter.
The PRESIDENT said that the whole of the matters men-
tioned by Mr Adams had been already considered by the
grand committee, who had proposed certain alterations in
the regulations of the hospital that would meet the evils
complained of. He thought Mr Adams's object would bo
attained if the whole affair was left in the hands of the
grand committee.
The TREASURER, Mr R. Baggallay, acknowledged that
the allowances had been rather extravagant; but when he
went back to the year 1842 he found the same consumption
of beer and coals going on. The matter had been long
known to him, and had given him the greatest anxiety.
He had since holding the office of Treasurer done much to
reduce certain petty allowances which had obtained from
time immemorial. The sodawater and lemonade had
been ordered in the quantity mentioned by the medical
staff, and it would be a bold thing in any governor
to dictate to those gentlemen what they should order the
patients under their charge. Mr Whitfield had explained
that ho said the authorities bought drugs of good, although
not of choice quality. That gentleman had been the zealous
officer for a very long period, and he could give him the
best character as to his scientific attainments. He thought
certainly he had been imprudent, but the meeting should
take into consideration the length and value of the services
he had rendered.
A motion to the effect that the grand committee, assisted
by Mr Adams, should investigate the matter at once, Mr
Whitfield being ordered to attend before them, and, further,
that they should report the issue of their inquiries to a
general court as soon as possible, was then put and carried.
Dr LEESON begged to say a few words in defence of Mr
Whitfield. His family was 12 in number, and if they
divided the quantity of beer supplied among them they
would find it only amounted to about two pints per day per
head. He thought, too, it was most unfair to calculate the
rate of consumption of coal per annum by what wao con-
sumed in the winter months. He quite concurred in the
motion which had put the matter into the hands of the
grand committee.
Mr Deputy ELLIOTT feared the public would blame the
grand committee loudly for letting things run on so long.
It really seemed as if the inquiry was being made only at
the last possible moment, when a Government Commission
had been appointed to inquire into the affairs of the hospital.
He had papers in his his hands which contained facts quite
that
as condemnatory of the system at present carried out es
those brought forward by Mr Adams ; but, as there was a
moat
alitne
aAc
anUzu s
oaSuba
:el dufkrbignidtvb.i nagtH
ga
ev
mall
had
chance of reform taking place, he would allow the matter
to rest at present.
until the and
die
Mr BAGGALLAY, the treasurer, here rosO an
place hie
rehissigl on- 11
the time had come for him to
the hands of the court and take the rest
lae had ancing
years rendered necessary. Four years glerfriend Mr announcedj
bewiennthtfil4hehraist. successor ki:loh\vadhboev(e:
his intention of resigning, but his g° dams
had persuaded him to stay
longer do his work with plea
the railway company had
eeer, that he could no sure to
glad to remain with them u
to Mr Baggallay for
himself and profit to the chanty. Ho should, however, be
appointed.
e himowed an apology
so long worked with Mr
four years of extra work of
Bagganay, be could appreciate tho enormous amount of
being
the M
mr
had to undergo
during the past four years, He then passed a high eulogium
on Mr Baggallay for the capacity and energy lie had
shown during his long connexion with the hospital, and
concluded by wishing him health and happiness in his
anxiety and
honourable retirement.
Mr TITE, 13
passed a similar eulogium on Mr Bag-
galley, and joined with Mr Adams in his high appreciation
of that gentleman's judgment, ability, and decision, as
shown during the contest with the railway company. He
then moved a resolution to the effect that the governors re-
ceived Mr Laggallay's resignation with deep regret, bear-
ing testimony to tho way in which the office had been
carried out, and wishing him every happiness during his
well-earned retirement.
The resolution was seconded in similar terms by Mr
Alderman GIBBONS, and carried by acclamation.
Mr BAGGALLAY then returned thanks for the complie
ments paid him, and said ho would be glad to remain in
office until his successor was appointed.
Some business of a formal nature was then transacted,
and the Court broke up after having passed a vote of thinks
to the kreeideut,