Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-16
MORE ROOM WANTED.
All the Departments of the Western
Pennsylvania Hospital
NOW CROWDED TO OVERLOOKING.
An Appropriation Asked for the Medical
and Surgical Branch.
THE CONTRIBUTORS ANNUAL MEETING

insane at Dixmont yesterday and listened to
the reports OF the managers of the lnstitu-
tion, showing it to be crowded to overfiowing
in all its branches. At present 160 more
persons are at Dixmont than there is accom-
modation for. At the medical and surgical
departments an average of 40 extra cots and
floor beds are required daily.
The election of officers was the first busi-
ness that came before the assembly, and it
resulted in the election of the members
whose terms expired, as follows: William
P. Townsend, Henry H. King, William
Shaw, Jr., William A. Heron. DR.. r. NJ.
Lindle, p. H. Miller, Charles S. Harper.
The organization OF the board resulted in
the election of John Harper, President; f.
r. Brunot and William A. Heron, Vice
Presidents; John A. Harper, Secretary and
Treasurer.
In the report of the President it was shown
that at the beginning Of the year there were
704 patients in the insane department and at
present 744. The increase has been con-
slant, and the institution is overcrowded.
1t has capacity to accommodate $50 patients
the excess 160 patients) within its walls
is menace to the health and safety of the
inmates.
Becoming Refuge for Incurables.
Most of the patients now being forced
upon the hospital come from jails and aims
houses and are, he says, generally chronic
insane. and frequently arrive in dying con-
ditions from exhaustion and disease. The
curative results are thereby reduced, and the
Yahl nf sol; Tba ifa1
was established for the treatment and cure of
1usanity-it is fast becoming an asylum for in
curables
The large and attractive brick building called
the Annex has been completed and occu-
pied, and accommodates l25 male patients. On
account of the rapid increase in the number OF
insane patients. the ASSOCIATION is hoping that
the State will soon provide similar institution
in this locality.
The statement of the Treasurer regarding the
financial condition of this department shows:
Receipts-Balance from last year, SS7, l53 10; ap-
proriations for the care of INDECENT insane,
$50, l5l A; interest on bonds 81 $40; rent, SIS;
sale of hides fat rags. old horses harness. etc..
s29T4 SS; receipts for the care ar and treatment OF
patients 49,, ,066 %; total, SlSS. I2S o..
observation-disclosures, ST., ,7S3 g.; salaries
and wages, s46. 200 50; general improvements.
S3, i67 IS; ordinary repairs, S65S 90; extraordi-
paid boardingl, S737 II; expenses on Ellsworth
property. sl7 81 live stock. s962 %; beautifyiug
grounds SIS OIL; gas well No. 8, s., 623 So; in
surance, $50; total, Sl66.OS5 "a Balance on hand,
The Medical and Surgical department has
more than eclipsed its record of good works for
the alienation of sickness and suffering. Never
before has 1t been called upon to care for more
patients They crowd to its doors from all
classes of society and no worthy or fit cases for
hospital treatment have ever been turned away.
The wardsand rooms have been full constantly;
extemporized beds on floors and cots had to be
provided, 40 being the average of spch accom-
modations in use nightly throughout the year.
The cost of maintaining the patients in the
hospital was 90 cents per diem for each patient.
Notwithstanding the strictest economy and
the closest collections from patients who were
willing and able to pay for their care and treat
ment. the debts of the department have ac.
cumulated, and now are about $4,000. Included
in this amount is the loan from the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company of SOC which was
tenance of patients during previous years.
A Large Appropriation to he Asked.
The hospital has asked, through the Board
of Public Charities, for renewal Of this ap-
preparation of $4,000, and confidently expects
it to be granted the next session. and made
available for the purpose of removing this in
cubus. 1t also asks for S32 900 for shortage in
maintenance during the past two years. and for
500, 900 more for the next two years. In all it
The capacity of the hospital has been in
creased about one-fourth by the extension of
the eastern wing and the erection of q new man.
sard roof over the building.
The further Improvement. or the extension of
of the woman's ward, was paid for by the pro.
ceeds amounting to S,3O4 9l) of a series OF en-
tertainments given at Old City Hall in Decem-
Der, 1855 by ladies OF Pittsburg and Allegheny;
and toward payment for the new roof indlvid-
nal donations and the earnings Of a military ex-
hibition and q concert given last July have
from this source was S6008 25; but 1t does not
appear in the Treasurer's statement. as it came
into his hands from the committee in charge of
the entertainments too late to be included in
his report tor the year.
For the preservation of the inmates and
buildings from the danger of fire, s1,7l0 were
contributed by friends and applied for the pur-
chase of fire apparatus that was approved by
tine fire department OF this city. At present
| the hospital is believed to be thoroughly pro-
| tected. The endowment funds aggregate
slightly increased by y stock dividend of the
Monongahela Navigation Company. The in
| vestment in the bond and mortgage of the
| Mercantile Library Hall Company has been
| changed, by direction of the BOARD. into the
| consolidated loan of that company represented
| by 100 bonds of Sl,0G each, bearing interest at
| the rate of per centum, payable seini-annually
and running 20 years from April. 1890
The trust funds are unchanged. From their
earning coal has been purchased and dis
tributed among the worthy poor'' by the COM
| mittee in charge. This fund is SO large that no
person in this community need suffer from
| cold. The fuel provided by it is freely and
| literally given to everyone entitled. by the
| terms of Mr.. Brewers and Mr.. Crawford's wills,
| to receive it.
Financial Affairs of the Department.
The Treasurer's statement shows the follow.
! ing state of affairs financially in this depart
ment of the institution: Receipts-Balance
| S. $50 SO; appropriations from the State, $780,.
75S IL; earnings of the endowment fund, SIS.
| 562 60; ground rent from the PENNSYLVANIA
| Railroad Company, s4O00; earnings, S2O 642 81
| donations and contributions, including amount
| for hre apparatus, 1854; proceeds of enter.
| tainmenr for extension of the woman's
| ward, S. 304 81; money found IN possession oi
| James Pollock who died in the hospital No
| vember % 1887, leaving no known relatives SIS
money borrowed from bank to nay for new
mansard roof, s., 600: total. s., ,739 I9.
| Observation-Disclosures and wages SIS 05O 81
| subsistence. $29, 756 55; household expenses
$500 q; incidental expenses, $500: ordinary re-
| paIrs S., ,034 q; extraordinary repairs, 81 80. 90
| clothes, shoes. etc. S.. l22 49, medical and sur
gical stores, Sc. All 81; live stock, vehicles etc.
s26l4 IS; interest paid to Pennsylvania Rail
road Company, being one years interest OF
building account. Sl2. .lO765; total. S93, 333 IL
| Bank discount on $1,000, borrowed on a note
| $40 80; balance, 81, 156 75.
| The reports of the endowment and trust fund.
| were also received, and all will be printed In
| book form for the use of the contributors and
| friends of the institution.
| Yesterdays meeting was not as well attended
| as the annual meetings usually are. and thu
| managers are very anxious that their friend.
| show more interest in the affairs of the institu
| tion.