The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-01-17 00:00:00

THE SOUTHERN AND TOXTETH
HOSPITAL.

YESTERDAY, the twelfth annual meeting of this valuable
institution was held at the Clarendon-rooms. Mr.
Matthew Gregson, the president, occupied the chair, and
amongst the gentlemen present we observed Messrs. J. B.
Yates, James Ingram, Studley Martin, William Fisher,
W. H. Russell, Mitchell, &c., &c.
Mr. WM. FISHER, the treasurer, first read a statement
of the accounts. He said that, notwithstanding the in-
creased usefulness of the institution, and the increased
prices of provisions, the expenditure, which was £1,746
10s. 5d., was less than last year. The subscriptions were
£B9O lls. ' • the donations and collections in churches
£5OO 15s. Bd. ; the interest on the dock bond (the produce
of the fancy fair) £B7 ss. 6d., and donation from the Dock
Committee £lO5, which, with £162 on hand last year, and
a trifle now on hand, made the total receipts £1,746105. sd.
Mr. Fisher said, in addition to that, a special :fund had
been raised to get the hospital out of debt. The debt
last year amounted to £622, which was increased £3 this
year ; but through the exertions of the committee,
£569 13s. had been raised,—so that he might venture to
say that with the promises which they had received there
was every probability that the institution would be quite
relieved from its debt, and that he should be enabled to
present a clean page to his successor.
The CHAIRMAN thought the statement most satisfac-
tory. It was the first time since the hospital had been
established when it could be said to have been out of
debt.

The Rev. Mr. ROBBERDS, the secretary, read, as follows,

THE REPORT:-

" From the return submitted to the committee by the
house-surgeon, it appears that there were in all 3,410
applicants for treatment in the institution during the
year 1853. Of this number, 1,053 were treated as in-
patients ; 2,157 as out-patients ; and 200, from the chronic
nature of their cases, referred to other institutions. The
in-patients exceeded those of the previous year by 212,
and the out-patients by 564.
Patients in the hospital on the 31st Dec., 1852... 58
Admitted from Ist Jan., 1853, to Ist Jan., 1854...1,053

Discharged cured, 871 ;.ditto, relieved, 33 904
Remaining in hospital on the 31st Dec., 1853
" The number of deaths during the year was 68. Of
these, five were dead when brought in, and 13 died within
twelve hours after admission. The remainder were prin-
cipally cases of severe burns or extensive chest disease.
In compound fractures there has been a slight increase,
and in simple fractures a considerable increase, by compa-
rison with the previous year. The number of dislocations
has also been greater. Two-thirds of those cases were
treated as out-patients from the first.

" The cases of concussion of the brain and fracture of
the skull rather exceeded those of 1852. Such accidents
occur principally to shipwrights employed at the graying-
docks in the neighbourhood, and to sailors.

" Submersion- cases amounted to 26. Of this number
three proved fatal, being in a perfectly hopeless state when
brought in.
" In wounds of the head and face, and other parts, as
also in contusions, there has been a very great increase,
more especially with regard to the last-named cases.
" It continues to be a source of great satisfaction that,
owing to the perfect ventilation of the hospital, which
was mentioned in the last report, numerous as are the
scalp wounds, &c., so few should be followed by erysipelas ;
the cases in which this has occurred having been admitted
in that state, and very soon rendered so far convalescent
as to be able to leave the hospital cured ; while in no
instance has erysipelas extended to other patients, which
is usually so much to be dreaded. There can be no doubt
that the excellent ventilation of the hospital has mainly
contributed to this gratifying result.
" The number of burns and scalds, as also of sprains,
has varied but little from that of the previous year.
" None but urgent and acute medical cases have been
admitted, except occasionally in the instance of foreign
sailors, for whom the hospital receives payment.
" It sufficiently appears from the above statement, that
the hospital is ably performing an increasingly needed
work in the busy and populous locality in which it is placed.
The same considerations which originally led to its erec-
tion exist now to a far greater degree. The rapidly
increasing trade and population of the south-end of the town
necessarily increase the number of those urgent casualties
for which it is so important to provide near and immediate
aid. Such casualties, too, are of a nature which cannot
be provided for by those whom they befal, or be efficiently
treated at their own homes. The abuses to which medica
charities are occasionally alleged to be liable cannot
extensively attach to an institution having for its main
object the treatment of severe injuries and acute forms
of disease.

* * Owing to deficient funds it has
not yet been deemed prudent to make use of all the beds
which the hospital is capable of affording. Only the most
urgent and acute cases can be admitted as in-patients,
and, by this limitation of the number, the hospital is de-
barred from assuming its proper rank as a chartered
institution, with the privilege of taking apprenticed
pupils, who would thus obtain most valuable professional
experience.
" Notwithstanding the generous liberality and unwea-
ried exertions of many benevolent friends of the institu-
tion, combined with the utmost practicable economy,
there still remains a small debt, with a decrease in the
amount of annual subscriptions. The committee venture
to appeal with confidence to the wealthy and thriving
community of the largest port in the world for the needful
aid that can easily be given to an institution, the object
of which commends itself to our common Christianity,
and which offers its benefits and invites co-operation,
without recognising any distinction of race, colour, sect,
or party."
A detailed tabular return was also submitted, which
shewed that the mortality had been about the same as last
year, being 1 8-10ths per cent.
Mr. J. B. YATES thought that they were taking too san-
guine a view of the prospects of the charity. He analyzed
the items of the expenditure, to show that there were none
on which any great reduction could be made, and then
urged that they ought not to be content till their means
were such that they could take medical pupils in the hos-
pital, and their medical officers could deliver courses of
lectures as at the other two similar institutions in town.
There was no reason why they should be on an infer!or
footing, for their medical staff would bear comparison with
any other set of medical men in any hospital here or in
London. He thought it should go out to the public that
they could not do without considerable assistance, in order
that they might next year accomplish the object to which
he had referred.
Mr. Fisnzu then read over a list of the donations.
The report was adopted, and ordered to be printed and.
circulated. Thanks were voted to Mr. Gregson, as Presi-
dent, with a request that he would continue his services
for another year, to which that gentleman acceded, ex-
pressing a hope that they should receive such donations
and contributions from the merchants and others in town
as would enable them to extend the usefulness and effi-
ciency of the institution.
Messrs. James Ingram, John Job, and J. B. Yates were
appointed vice-presidents for the ensuing year. Thanks
were then voted severally to the treasurer, the auditors,
the Rev. D. T. Barry, the chaplain, the lergy and dis-
senting ministers who had advocated the claims of the
hospital during the past year ; the medical officers of the
institution ; the donors and ladies who had furnished
linen and other useful articles, and to the house-surgeons
and the matron. In moving the latter, Mr. Ingram
spoke warmly as to the efficiency of the matron, and called
attention to the fact that she had herself, by means of
penny subscription cards, obtained last year for the charity
not less than £l5.
In the course of the proceedings, reference was made to
the withdrawal by the West Derby Guardians of their
former grant, and it was resolved that an endeavour
should be made to secure its renewal ; and
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting
broke up.

THOMAS'S SHILLING CONCERTS have been nightly in-
creasing in attraction, and are receiving so large a share
of public patronage, that the success of the project has
been placed beyond all doubt. The sweet tones of Miss
Mr. Ransford ravishes all ears, while the trumpet solo of
Harper elicits tumultuous cheering.
TUE DANISH CHURCH.—By way of reviving ritualism
in their Church, the Priests' Union of Copenhagen held a
liturgical service on Christmas Eve, in the Cathedral of
St. Mary's. The congregation was overflowing, but the
responses were but poorly taken up, and the singing was
far from general. It is nearly 300 years since a similar
service was held in Denmark, the old liturgical service
having been abolished by Royal authority.
THE ORPHAN Cum) of one of the oldest of the Irish
baronets was admitted, a few days since, into the NVanstead
Infant Orphan Asylum.