The Portland daily press., 1878-10-09
Maine General Hospital Annual Meeting.

Maine General Hospital Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the Maine General
Hospital was held yesterday afternoon in the
| Common Council room. There was an attend
ance of about twenty members. The chair was
occupied by Hon. John B. Brown, President of
the Corporation. The President of the board
of directors Dr.. Gilman, read the eighth an
nual report of that board, which was accepted
| and the usual number of copies ordered printed.
Dr. Dana, in behalf of the standing COM
| mittee, of which he is chairman reported that
they do not deem it expedent to recommend
the election of any new associate corporators
this year, which report was accepted.
A committee, composed of Messrs. d. N.
Jose, e. II Daveis and w. E. Milliken, was
appointed to receive, sort and count the votes
for the election of officers.
The result of the balloting was the election
of the following named officers:
Presdent-John B. Brown.
Observation-Disclosures III. Gerrsh, M. D.
Directors for three years-Samuel E. Spring
and Asa W. 81. Clapp.
Standing Committee-Israel 7. Dana, M. D.,
John B. Brown, Samuel E. Spring, William
l.. Putnam and Edward Il. Daveis
ABSTRACT OF DIRECTORS REPORT.
OWiuB w tuo otEluScuCy vi tuo tlm6S al ILL.,
usual number of applications for admission on
the free list, largely in excess of the number of
free beds, has been made during the hospital
year; 40 such applicants from different parts of
the state, and mostly from the working classes,
were received for humanity sake, the most of
whom have returned to their families and pur-
suits with greatly improved and in many cases
restored health. These patients could not have
hna ofrlI frnn tnd for 0f fhafR
homes and but for the superior professional
advantages which we'll regulated hospitals can
always provide. they would have remained
there to-day great sufferers crippled fer life,
and some of them, we fear, sooner or later re-
duced to pauperism. Money in small sums has
come from various private sources, which with
the generous grantSof $4,000 from the state, has
enabled us to receive and to support in part the
large number of free patients referred to.
With requisite means for their maintenance at
our command, the hospital could bs filled be
filled at once with this class of patients, an be
what all such institutions were designed and
ought to be, great charities for the sick and
suffering poor. A marked diminuition in the
number of patients took place in Sept, 1877,
and continued for several months, the result,
we have reason to believe, of unjust criticisms
which had been circulated over the state, and
OF anonymous communications which appeared
from time to time in several newspapers reflect
ing in an unfriendly spirit and an inaccuracy
of statement upon the financial and profession
al management of the hospital.
The executive control of the Institution is in
the hands of the directors. They appoint all
officers and are its responsible overseers Fal-
~ recognizing the importance of retaining pub
lie confidence in the institution and in the in
telligence and skill of its doctors, they at once
referred the charges to competent and impair
t1al tribunals, 10 whose decision the public
bunals gave the hospital complete ex-
oneration, both financially and professionally.
Admissions to both private and general wards
have been constantly Increasing since February
last. Surgical cases, as usual, largely predom-
mate. Many very important operations cover
ing almost the entire domain OF surgery have
been performed in the last eight months with
very gratifying results. The hospital has never
been in SO satisfying and promising condition
as at the present time.
The directors express their entire confidence
in the professional ability and skill of the dec
tors connected with the hospital, who without
pecuniary compensation give their daily and
devoted attention to the patients entrusted to
their care. They also bear testimony to the
intelligence and fidelity which the superinten-
dent has ever manifested in the discharge of
his duties. By economical attention to the
financial affairs of the hospital on the part OF
the directors a reduction of $270G has been
made this year as compared with the CORE
spending disbursements of the preceding year.
The report of the Ladies' Visiting and Ad-
visOry Board is presen ted, and their very valu-
able services publicly acknowledged. Hospital
Sunday contributions to the amount OF $9l9.2l
have thus far been received. and it is hoped
that many more will be added before the close
of the year. IL is stated that nearly 800 church
organizations exist in the state, and it s respect
fully suggested that the average sum of S. from
each would be suf1 ,ient for the support of
twenty free beds. Six free beds have Deen es-
tablished during the year. The permanent
fund derived from gifts and legacies, the inter-
est OF which can only be used for hospital pur-
poses, amounts to $12 22l07.
By the indefatigable exertions of the matron,
Mrs. Warren, $1,000 has already been obtained
from private sources which secures the compile
lion. at an early day. of loHg-needed elevator.
The kindly offerings and favors of the many +
lady visitors and friends are very fttipgly ac-
ABSTRACT OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES REPORT.
Number of patients in the hospital Oct. 1,
L877-paying, 8; free, II; total, 10. Number
admitted during the year-paying, 81; paying,
part Of the tme) Is; free, 46; total, 1856 They
have been divided between tho two depart
nents as follows: Medical, So; surgical, 118.
Whole number under treatment during the
year, III; number discharged during the year,
L49. with the following result: Recovered, "a;
relieved, 46; not relieved, 6; not treated, IL;
lied, II. The proportion of deaths to the
HuOt6 uuuUoT tIodt6U Is l.UA per Cout Loo VI
he patients belonged in this state AMI % out of :
t. Number of weeks relief furnished to pay.
ng patients, 343 81; number to free patients,
I95 CT; total. 839 At. This is equal to an
averages of 1871 patients for the year. This
shows falling off from last year, when the !
average was IS 10, occasioned no doubt By the
malicious attacks, &c., of last fall. The total
expenses for the year have b.en $10,-
$685. IS. There has baen q marked saving in
expense in many directions during the year. |
The average COST Of each patient has been
BIZ GA, which is 81 20 less than last year, not
the smaller average number of |
patients There has been received from pa
tents for board $3.36616. The free beds main
tanned by permanent endowment or annual
which have been available during
the year, aggregate 292 weeks. Free relief to
the extent of 495 81 weeks has been furnished
by the hospital.
From the Treasurer's report it appears that |
the receipts were $9,S5917, and that the ex-
penditures were $9,66l 81, leaving balances of