The Portland daily press., 1892-12-24

vi IL WI ~ WI
'Durham system,n which when once
tight. can never leak unless the pipe is
actually broken. The hot water for the
lavatory is run in brass pipes in the COM
plete circuit system and is unique in it,
self, inasmuch as the heat for the same
may be supplied from two different
sources, namely, the laundry stove or
kitchen ranges, each system being inter-
changeable with the other, so that they
may be run together or separately. This
arrangement will furnish hot water very
quickly after a fire is started in these
places, and ensures plenty of it at all
times, an importantitem in hospital.
1.-THE culinary facilities of hospital
are highly important. You will notice
that ample provision has been made for
this feature of the building upon each OF
the floors. Good food, well cooked,
seasoned, and properly served will do
much to every carry person through sick
ness successfully.
"While everything has been planned
for the comfort and welfare of the pa
tients, their safety has not been neglect
ed and you will notice the arrangement
of hose on each floor ready for immediate
use in case of fire. In addition, the can
vas chute fire escape will be ready to
take patients safely down to the ground
if necessary. 8&
"With this brief history of the origin
and progress of the infirmary, let us for
moment consider it's daily work. The
door at the right Of the head Of the
stairs of the main entrance is for pa
tients to enter the registration room.
Here the name, age, occupation and resi-
denee of each one are recorded In the
register. Each one is given q card with
these items upon ito and alsoa letter OF
the alphabet whieh will enable him to
take his regular turn when ca led to the
surgeons room. If patient has been
number which entities him to his turn
when called Thus the numbers and let
ters readily distinguish the new from the
old patients. The letters are called first
and each patient presents his card to the
surgeon, who copies it into his clinical
record where he writes the history, dag
nosis and treatment of the case. The
card the patient keeps and presents it to
the surgeon on each succeeding visit,
when he can readily refer to the case.
and make note of such changes and i'm
provements In the treatment as may be
required. From these records the annu-
al report is made up. 1t involves good
deal of bookkeeping, but is necessary in
order to do the work properly and make
the records of any value. With all these
facilities for carrying, on this work OF
charity care must be constantly exercised
to see that they are not diverted from
the purpose for which they were intends
ed, namely, the treatment, free
OF charge, OF poor persons
throughout the state. When each pa
tient is registered the following questions
are asked: What income supports you?
Do you ask for free treatment? The an
swers to these questions together with
the residence and occupation must de-
termine whether he is entitled to the benz
efits of this charity. In determin-
ing, who are the proper persons to re-
ceiye the benefits of this charity, or who
contribute to its support, or take an in
terest in its work, can render valuable
assistance. Those who are able to pay
fee for the treatment they may need
are not proper persons for charity, and
they should not come here to take up the
time of the surgeons, which is given to
the treatment of the poor only. Those
who have contributed SO literally to it's
support, have done SO for the benefit OF
the poor. 1t would not only be unjust
to them to have patients who are able to
pay treated free, but it would be unjust
to the medical staff, who give their ser
vices to the treatment of the poor only"
Having given this description OF the
new structure, DR.. Holt continued with
some interesting remarks on the nature
and extent of the diseases Of the eye
which prevail. DR.. Howe of Buffalo, n.
Y, in very valuable report recently
made, states that the increase of blind
ness in that state is eight times greater
than the increase of population, and that
20 or 80 per cent of this is caused by OPP
thalmia moratorium, or purulent intiam-
nation of the eyes of the new born.
DR.. Howe's investigation of this subject
and his intercourse with the leading
men of Europe, who had had laws passed
for the prevention of blindness, so i'm
pressed him with the Importance OF it
that he obtained the passage OF An act
for the prevention of blindness" by the
New York legislature, which became
law in September, 1890, and which was
the first of it's kind in this country.
Maine, true to her motto, has the honor
of directing the lead of the other states
by being first to pass this act for the
prevention of blindness. 1t became
a law in this state in June. 1891.
DIR. Holt went on TO say UnaI IL was
doubtful if all the epidemics OF cholera
and yellow fever in this country for the
past 100 years have cost the country as
much money as the ravages OF opthal-
mia neonatorum in 10 years. Maine,
having Goth part of the blind OF the
United States, sustains a loss OF one Goth
part of the sum estimated for the coun-
try, or $125, 900 per annum for Maine.
The institutions for the care and help.
of those physically unfortunate would be
the noblest monuments of this 10th CEN
fury. While hospitals were established
in the 18th century. and even by the