The Portland daily press., 1877-12-21


ference in the average number it could be seen at
glance that there was no excessive expenditure
as compared with these other hospitals. But he
proceeded to prove, upon a basis Of the expen-
ditures of the last two years. that provided
there were forty patients the average cost would
be as low as any Of the hospitals mentioned.
he said that the pay roll which last year
amounted to $4321, would only have to be in
creased by two additional nurses at $16 per
month ($3S4) and two additional servants at
$12 per month ($288), which would then make
it $4993 Next taking the items of medicine
and stimulants and miscellaneous, which last
year amounted to 1885, he allowed that they
might be increased in direct ratio to the num-
Der of patients, which would give $2167, though
it wonld probably be less than that. He said
that from carefully kept accounts of the cost of
all kinds of food supplies for the last two years,
it was found to cost on an average 1882 per
week per Notwithstanding the average
number of patients and all officers and en-
ployes. The number of the last class for the
past year has been twenty, which, with the
supposed add ition of four to the number of the
help, and the forty patients would give family
OF 64 to feed, which at the average cost So 50
per week, would amount for the year to 1885,
The items of coal SPOIL, gas $605, water 500,
and ice $66, would not be increased any with
the additional number of patients. This then
gives total OF all the running expenses for a
year for forty patients of $685. which is to
be divided among forty patients, which would
give as the average cost per week S. 81, result
better than IN any OF the hospitals mentioned
except the last year of the Boston city hospital,
when, with an average number of 27I the cost
was So OF.
The question as to whether the building is
too large is not now to be considered. 1t is a
fact that the building is here and it must be
taken care of. The girls and nurses here are
worked as bard as elsewhere. In regard to the
question of S2500 or $4,000 which might be
saved, get $1,000 year and board for myself
and family. am obliged to do work outside,
work which requires horse which Il am oblig-
ed to pay $500 year for keeping. The perma-
neEt family consists of myself, wife and two
children, the matron, two house pupils, two
nurses by day and two by night, two girls for
housework. cook and helper in the kitchen,
two girls in the laundry, girl for general
Homework and to assist In my family, an engi-
netr and porter. Only one of the night
nurses boards here. The house pupils are not
paid, but simply have their board. AS to the
matter OF coal, prices were high when the hos
pltai opened and the hospital was poor and
could not buy to asGgood advantage as other
wise. The bill for coal this year will be less
than $1,000. A skilled engineer to run the
works might have saved much coal. Messrs
Morse q Pennell, who examined the works
last winter, thought we should have an engi-
- W
the present man $25 per month, but they were
Iot SO certain that we could save coal enough
to make it pay. Two hundred and fifty tons
were burned last year. The Superintendent
then gave the bill of fare of TIE hospital, which
ne said was rather better than can be found at
some OF the hospitals. This is needful from the
TACT that the best class of patients came here
and they expect good bill of fare. My own
table is served with the same bill half of the
time. If we have fruit and other uxuries
pay for them.
Governor Conner asked if DR.. Tewksbury
could substitute any better system than that
now IN use as to the purchase Of articles, SO.
Or. Tewksbury SAID the reading of the diet
bill amounted to nothing as he never thought
they lived too well. But claim that the $1,000
and the amount paid for the support of the
resident physician c0uld be saved. DR.. Hunt
is physician and he cannot afford to stay
here Tor less than the amodnt paid, but a
physician is not needed to purchase supplies.
A steward could do his work for $40 per month
while bis vile conld act in some capacity. The
admission OF patients can be done by the
house physicians as we'll as by the Superinten-
dent. By this means $125 a month can be
saved. There is no need of keeping horse
as everything can be sent to the house without
expense. There is not another institution in
the country which costs as much as this.
Dr. Gilman then read statement from the
report of the directors in regard to the amount
of coal consumed. The statement was pub
lished in the PRESS of October 9th.
Hon. S. E. Spring, one of the directors, asked
to be heard. He said that he was on trial and
wished to be heard. He said that the talk
about coal and resident physician amounted to
nothing, as that was not the real cause of the
complaints made. The fact il that Dr. Tswks-
bury wants TO get rid of DR.. Hunt. When the
hospital was opened the medical staff pre-
pared code Of bylaws which Was adopted to
govern the institution. Soon after this code
was adopted DIR. Tewksbury, who had helped
make it, tried to break it. When DIR. Hunt as
Superintendent, refused to allow him to do so,
be rose against him aud determined to put
him out of the way. DR.. Tewksbury has not
been maply and above board in all bis attacks
| upon the superintendent and the hospital The
trouble was he wanted 10 put his patients into
the hospital and attend them, and collect fees
,or II. DE- Hunt objected to this, and since
snat Time he has never lost an opportunity tc
Stfike BLOW at him. He came to my Office