The Portland daily press., 1879-10-15

was for increasing the original equipment of
the hospital to meet the largely increased num-
Der of patients, which at one time came up to
50.
The amount expended ON repairs was mostly
on account of the damage caused by lightning,
and was not ordinary repairs.
Notwithstanding these items have been
charged in full as current expenses, the aver
age cost of each patient per week has been but
$780, which is 1874 less than last year.
This reduction, it is obvious is due to the
larger number of patients, and shows, l think,
that with a fair number the cost of supporting
our patients would be as low as in any similar
\ hospital in the country.
There has been received from patients for
board 81 ,905.24.
The excess of expenditures over receipts
from patients is 81 1885.
The free beds maintained by permanent en-
dowment OF annual subscription, which have
been available during the present hospital
year, has been as follows:
By Mrs. hummer, from Oct. l, 1878, to Sept. 80,
1879. Permanently established May "a, 1877, in
memory of Miss Mary Cleaves.
1879.
by Mrs. j. E. Judd, from Oct. 1, 1873, to Sept.
By Ladies Visiting Board from Oct l, 1873, to
By Ladies Visiting Board from Oct /, 1878, to
By John Mussey, from March 3, 1878, to Sept.
BY Abner Coburn, from March 90 1878, to Sept.
BY First Parish Sunday school, from Sept 26,
1878, to Sept 80, 1879.
This gives an aggregate of 27S weeks or
what is equal to SO per beds for the year. The
hospital has furnished relief to free patients
to the extent of 6S2 CT weeks, which is equiv
alent to an average of 1909 for the year.
The demand for free beds grows more and
more urgent every year, and 1T is source OF
qualification that each year we have been able
to meet the demand to greater extent. This
appears by comparing the present with the
previous four years. The aggregate number OF
weeks relief furnished to free patients the first
year was ia, in the second year 26l II, in the
third 401 81, in the fourth 495 81.
The generous contributions that made it pos
sibe to pay off all the debts of the hospital in
the early spring. relieved us Of serious source
| of embarrassment, and enabled us to lncIease
the free list to larger extent than i'll any pre-
| vious year.
1t is important that the public should under
stand that it is the intention to increase the
number of free patients to the utmost that the
resources of the hospital will allow. Thus
every donation, however small, may he said to
go directly towards the support of free pa
tients.
Since the aggregate number of weeks relief
| furnished to paying patients was 502, and the
average cost per week was $1O.3O, the cost OF
maintaining the paying patients was So, ITO so.
while the amount received from them for
board was "a, 9O5 "a, leaving deficit of only
$265 36, SO that virtually all the income OF the
hospital from invested funds and donations
from the state or private individuals except
that given to pay off the debit during the past
year, have been expended in the care OF free
patients.
Since my last report the elevator which was
so much needed, has been put in and has
proved a great benefit to the patients, as they
have been able to take exercise in the open air
during convalescence, which they were former
ly prevented from doing, on account of the
fatigue caused by going ~p and down stairs.
The corridor connecting the pavilion with the
main building has been raised another story,
so that the patients in the upper ward have
easy access to the elevator.
A telephone has been put in the hospital
which puts us in connection with several OF the
hospital staff, all the depots, steamers, &C.,
and most of the firms which we do business
with, and is proving to be great convenience.
This was done without expense to the hospital
by special donation for that purpose.
We have received during the year a great
many valuable contributions of fruit, vegeta-
bles, deicacies, and other useful articles,
which will be acknow' edged in detail by the
matron in her report. would mention espec-
tally the large contributions of fruit and vege-
tables received from the exhibitors at the
Maine State Fair. We have assurances that
similar donations will be received from other
county and town fairs soon to be heidi
In conclusion, would say that the past year
has been by far the pleasantest, most harmoni-
ous and most successful in every respect since
the hospital was opened. We have reason to
believe that the preiudices against the institu-
ton are beginning to disappear, and its advan-
tages to the community are being appreciated
as they should be.
An appendix to this report contained list
of surgical operations during the year, showing
that they have been very numerous in proper
ton to the number of patients.
The treasurer, Mr.. McCobb, made his report
as follows: