Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-17

In the hospital i'-'-..'', dVo 10 I'd
Total treated ...... 1872 1853 963
Max. No. dec. 3O)..... 13O 81 161
Min. No (Apr. 2s) -. 81 q 112
average .....;.. 10Y 28 1876
in hospital l........3s oe9 1o,167 4s.236
Seven males and six females were
born here. OF the others fourteen had
been in the county but one day; fifty
three one week or less, and 10S one
month or less; or in other words, more
than one-eighth of all parties cared for
in the hospital had been in the county
only one month or less, and this does
not include large number OF men who
had resided in the county varying
lengths OF time, but had been away few
weeks or months, and when sick came
at once to the hospital. Nearly dozen
such have come from the grading camps
near Yuma.
OF the cases admitted 1872 were surgi-
cal, 140 phthisis, 40 venereal, 40 alcohol
ism, 46 rheumatism, 33 la grippe, (most
of them with bronchitis or tonsillitis),
% insane, IL pneumonia, 15 malarial
fever, 13 cancer; the other 260 cases
were classified under a host of different
ailments.
During most of the time since March
18th we have had case of tubercular
leprosy. He has been isolated as strict
ly as possible, and in his present con-
dition there has been little likelihood OF
his spreading the disease. He has been
in California over two years, but had
been in this county but a few days be-
fore his admission. He is married
man and has a wife and 2-year-old child
living in Los Angeles. About three
%hoxy Do
Spain, to San Diego county, and l sus-
pect they were assisted to come to this
county, as he had been a leper for sew
eral years before leaving Spain, and had
been treated for his disease in hospital
at Barcelona.
Only three of the cases of phthisis
were native born, and four others prob
ably developed the disease in Southern
California, SO that 95 per ceat of the
cases of phthisis were imported. The
number of typhoid cases were fewer
than for many previous years, while
there were more cases of pneumonia
than for the past five years put together.
The two epidemics of la grippe, in
February and again in December, in
creased our death rate largely over the
previous years of my administration.
OF the ninety-six deaths, forty were due
to phthisis and fifteen others to pneu-
monia, bronchitis and gangrene of lung,
making fifty-tive due to diseases of the
lungs Many of the eases of phthisis
were hastened by la grippe, and most of
the other deaths from lung trouble were
directly due to it. Nine deaths were
caused by various froms of brain and
spinal cord diseases, seven to heart dis
ease, six to cancer of various organs
fo,1r r., d;coocod Hi1pavc fhroa e. nov;
tonitis, two each to syphilis and to scle-
rosis of the liver, and the other eight to
as many different diseases.
The total expense of. maintaining the
hospital for the year was $31 ,251. 38,
from which should be deducted $37142 26
collected from the state and board of pa
tients, making the net current expense
$27, ,537 .12. This makes the net expense
for each patient per day 81 cents.
These figures do not cover, of course,
the expenses of new building, fire hy-
drants, etc. Right here, let me say that
your honorable board has done more
during the past year to improve the
condition of the hospital, and conse-
quently add to the safety and comfort of
the unfortunate sick entrusted to it's
care, than has been done during all the
previous years of the existence of the
hospital.
Chief among these improvements are
the new building, containing surgical
wards and operating room, and rooms
which may be used for the care of the
insane if deemed advisable. The new
building is frst-class in every respect,
and has been finished at a cost of
$4,000, and think the county is to be
congratulated that you have accom-
IL. 60
1t could not be duplicated for the
money.
The enlargement of the kitchen and
dining room was much needed i'm
provement, and adds very much to the
convenience of doing the work. There
is now room for all the patients who are
able to leave the wards to eat at one
time, and avoid the hustle, confusion
and unpleaeantness of setting the table
two or three times for each meal.
The improvements and repairs which
come out of current expenses were the
five new fire hydrants with patent reels
and 100 feet of hose each. The cost of
these complete with protecting sheds
was $500 80. Eighty-fve dollars was the
cost of the new fencing which enabled
us to use the alfalfa field for pasturage.
A bull and three cows were added to the
hospital herd at cost of $235. The
windmill and tank-house cost $435.
Under "repairs" $57430 was expended
in painting and calciming. The outside
and roofs OF all the buildings was given
two coats of paint and much OF the iu-
terror was painted or calcimined. The
outside privy in which Cottier put
his system of ventilation has been
= renovated and changeu 10 water
closet, ,emptiyng into the common sewer,
ate cost OF $S4. The sewerage has been
kept during the past year in such shape
as to give but little offense, but it will
be necessary to put in new filter beds
this year.
The crops, which consist OF hay
oranges and garden vegetables. were the
largest for years. Although there have
been so many improvements made ir
the conGtteA of the hospital the past
year, there are few more that are es
sential TO Che safety and efficiency o
the Institution, viz: Gas and increased
hot water supply. The latter can, ]
think, be best supplied by steam plant