The Portland daily press., 1892-11-02
MAINE GENERAL HOSPITAL.
The Annual Meeting Of the Corpora
tion Held Yesterday.

the Memory of I'll. N. Jose-A Good
Showing by the Superintendent-The
Finances of the Hospital-Improve-
ments in Progress-Annual Election of
officers.
The annual meeting of the Maine Gen
eral Hospital was held at the Office of
Portland Savings Bank yesterday after
noon, President Putnam in the chair.
There was large attendance of corpora
tors and directors. The reports of the
officers were read and accepted. This
report of the directors was read by
Judge Webb.
Directors Report.
In respect to the work and operation
of the hospital the directors have only to
repeat the often communicated and al
WAYS gratifying assurance that it has
been maintained at high standard and
the service to patients has increased and
is increasing.
The report of the superintendent and
resident physician, submitted herewith,
shows fully the amount and description
of the service rendered, the results, the
number and residences of patients treat
ed and the cost of their care and support,
the amount of gratuitous or free service
and other interesting particulars. To this
report careful attention is asked.
The suggestions of the superintendent
as to the need of accommodation for
nurses and the demand for the employ
81
with great force the minds of the direc-
the same that has always compelled the
directors to go slowly, and
to postpone many Improvements
of admitted Importance. For the
present all that can be said, we have not
the necessary means to supply this want.
If it shall be found that patients require
the space now devoted to the use OF
nurses, some provision must be devised
to meet the case. Perhaps, as an i'm
perfect and temporary resource, some
house in proximity to the hospital, may
be rented until our funds will warrant
the erection of a home for nurses, with
in the hospital precincts.
The completion and furnishing of the
new wing, ready for patients, was I'M
avoidably delayed from various causes,
much to the chagrin and disappointment
of the directors. When it was finally in
condition for use. it's necessity was quick
ly manifested by an accession of inmates,
for whom without these extended facili-
ties, there would have been no room.
This increase was not merely the relief
of a temporary and accidental accumula-
ton of applicants; it is steadily pro-
crossing, and will grow as knowledge of
the capacity of the hospital is extended.
The matter of lighting the hospital
has always been a serious one
for your directors. 1t was
felt early that the large expense of gas
must be avoided, and resort was had to
oil and lamps. This, while satisfactory
in an economical point of view, was sub
iect to great objections, especially in re-
gard to safety. The admirable disci-
pline and care prevailing, have guhrded
against mishap, but could not remove
constant solicitrde thai sooner or later
some trouble might come from that
source. The opening of the new wing
would nearly double the number of
lamps, and would increase the persons
handling them, thus indefinitely enhanc-
ing the hazards of such system of IL
Elimination.
The directors were unwilling to take
the responsibility of mourning this fur
Their risk and to rely wholly on such
means of lighting. Inquiry in regard to
lighting by electricity lead to decision
to adopt that method. l. seemed most
economical to secure the electricity by
connecting with the engine used by day
for necessary work. an electrical plant to
be run at night when there was not other
use for the power.
Mr.. John M. Fox, graduate Sof
the Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology, and an electrical engineer
of experience, laid out and executed the
work in highly satisfactory way. The
apparatus has been in successful opera
ton since April. Whethe it is chearer
to cont nue. to supply electricity in this
way or to purchase from he electric
light company, must be finally deter
mined by experience. Thus far indica-
lions are in favor of the course we are
pursuing.
The quantity of pure water demanded
for a hospital is very large. The Port
land Water Company, since the opening
of this hospital to the present year, has
generously supplied all the water it
needed at merely nominal charge. The
amount consumed has been determined
by a meter, and at the lowest rates
charged by the water company would be
SO heavy bill that upon receiving an in
timation that that corporation might be
G, nstrained to collect of the hospital
according to general rates, the directors
looked for some way of relief 1t was
thought best to sink W ell. especial
as I'll indications in the neighbor-
hood, favored the belief that
an adequate supply of water
would be readily obtained in that way.
A further motive for this experiment
was the liability to deficiency of the
supply by the Water Company caused
by breaking of their pipes or interruption
of their works, which though only tenn
porary, would be very detrimental to the
hospital. Accordingly q contract for
sinking well has been made, and the
contractor is pressing the work diligent-
ly. The result of this experiment is