The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-02-02

\ THE CHARITY HosPITAL.-One OF the most
instructive documents annually spread before
the legislature OF Louisiana, is the report of the
commissioners of the Charity hospital, New
\ Orleans. From this document we learn that
the number of patients admitted into the hos
ptal during the year 1858. was 1887; dis
charged 1928; died 2290-being an increase
of 244O patients on the number treated the pre-
vous year This increase is attributed to the
prevalence of the epidemic during the summer
and part of the autumn. Or the patients ad-
mitted 9135 were males, and 22O2 females; Of
those discharged there were 7071 males, and
1852 females; of the deaths 927 were males,
and 363 females. The nativity of the patients
in the aggregate was as follows: From foreign
countries 9568-of these 1858 were from Ire
land, and 1900 from Germany, Russia and
Standardization the United States ISL
unknown 49, The report of births during the
year is SO males, So females, 8 stillborn.-
I The most prevalent diseases treated in the hos
pital were fevers-thus, of intermittent feyers
/ there were 1929 admissions; of yellow fever
4 2722 Diarrhcea ranks next, there having been
! 679 cases of that disorder Rheumatisms are
extremely common-lhe admissions number
inc 1873 Next we have in their order dyson
terry, contusions, syphilis. bronchitis, intemper-
ance, ulcers, wounds Of all kinds, &c. The
financial exhibit of the hospital shows that a
liberal appropriation from the legislature will
be required to maintain it in a full state Of eff
fciency The receipts during the year 1858
$40, SAG 67-leaving an apparent balance on
the 1st January, 1859, Of $2,l92 so. But
the hospital, on the lst February, inst, will
be in debt $21 900, Of which $4,000 is a note
given for borrowed money, and the remainder
for supplies already furnished and to be fur
nished during the month Of January past The
expenses of the past year were $1,000 less than
the preceding year, although the number of
patients exceeded by 2400 that Of 1857. The
report states that the means relied on for the
maintenance Of the hospital have been far be-
low the estimates The passenger tax. esti
mated at $50, 00O produced only $19,640 %;
and the tax on balls and concerts, instead Of
$4,000, brought into the treasury only $685..
The income from theatres amounted only to the
specific tax of 500 each. The actual reve-
nue. Of the hospital, including the State appro-
praton, amounted TO only $59. 683 rs, and
consequently recourse was had to loans to
make up the deficiency, and provide for neces
sary expenses, Il is therefore evident, say the
administrators, that an appropriation Of least
$40, 900 will be required for the maintenance
of the institution for the year 1859. Some
permanent and reliable income by taxation is
absolutely necessary to prevent the hospital
from becoming, by the annual diminution of
its revenues, a constant and heavy burden on
the State treasury. Hence it is suggested that
the tax of $500 on theatres be reinstated aud
that the fines imposed by the first distrctc court
of New Orleans, and the several recorders of
the city, be paid into the treasury Of the hos
pital.
The annualreport of the State treasurer con
tains much interesting and valuable informa
ton, besides many suggestions that will be both
important to the Legislature and to the people
of the State The condition of the State trea
sury on the 31st December, 1858, is thus de-
tailed:
Balance in the treasury the 1st of
January, 1855, $I,O58,O58 76
Receipts from LIST January, 1858, to
3Ist December, 1853 inclusive, l,829,O74 50