The Portland daily press., 1889-11-06
.yalne of coal on hand al ! lsss aezs a.

+value of coal on hand Oct /, 1885, s67s.47.
Value of coal on hand Oct. ], 1889, $l,964.4.
Average cost of each patient per week,
$lI.22.
1888 81 weeks at $11.22 per week was
$lS,3S6.37. There was received from patients
for board $l7.703.66.
On November 80, case of diphtheria ap-
peared in our female ward, which was quickly
followed by two others in the same ward, and,
later, by case in the male ward. and the por-
ter was also attacked. Two of the cases
were quite severe and protracted. in their
course. The others were mild and of short
duration. All eventually recovered. 1t was as
certained, without any doubt, that the disease
was brought into the hospital by the clothing
of patient. who had been exposed to it, in
her family, just before coming here. and was
not, IN any way. chargeable TO any unsanitary
condition of the building. As diphtheria was
prevalent at the time, the situation was con
sidered serious enough to demand the most
radical measures to arrest the spread of the
disease. The cases were removed at once to
the isolating cottage. All patients who could
be safely sent home, were discharged, till the
number was so much reduced that those re-
naming could be cared for in the two lower
floors of the hospital. The upper story was
then thoroughly secured and disinfected. All
bedding was disinfected and sent to the
laundry. The mattresses were put into a
steam chest and exposed to steam, under
pressure, tor hours. The walls were given
three coats of paint, and all the wood work
was vanished and the floors oiled. The pa
tients were then moved and each of the other
stories was treated in the same thorough man.
ner.
We had the satisfaction of seeing the disease
.s-l.1-.
appearance of the hospital was very much i'm
proved. The plaster walls, never having been
painted, had become dingy from fourteen
years use. The walls can now be washed as
often as may be necessary. The cost of this
painting was 1874, which is the explanation
of the unusual amount charged to repairs.
Notwithstanding the interruption to our
work which this trouble caused, and which
extended over nearly two months, the statistics
show an increase in the number of admissions,
as compared with last year, of 70, and in the
daily average. of 3.8S. The work grows every
year, and never before have we felt the
need of more room, to the same ex-
tent. There has been no time during
the year, that We could accommodate all pa
tients at the time applications for admission
were made. There have been, at times. from
twenty-five to thirty patients waiting for
vacancies, that they might be admitted. In
some cases nearly month has elapsed before
an application on the file could be reached. 1t
is to be hoped that means will be obtained TO
finish the western pavilion, now commenced,
as rapidly as possible.
In May, Mrs. Leese, the superintendent of
nurses, resigned her position on account of the
illness of member of her family. Her resig-
nation was accepted with much regret. The
training school, during the four years of her
administration, had become well established,
and had proved its usefulness to the hospital
and to the community. To fill the vacancy,
we were very fortunate in securing the services
of Miss Emma L. Stowe, lady we'll equipped
for the position by long service as assistant
superintendent of the training school of the
Boston City hospital. Under her instruction,
feel sure that the school will continue to
prosper, and the pupils will receive the thor
ough training needed to fit them for the re-
sponsibilties of their future work.
The following pupils were graduated during
| the year: