The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-06
CITY DrsrENsARY's HALF-YEAR.
Cost of Operation During That Time
$3,214.95.


The report of Keeper A. n. O'Keefe of
the city dispensary will be sent to Health
officer LeHardy in a few days. and will
show the work of the dispensary for the
last six months and the saving to the city
in purchasing medicine for the door. The
report will also contain statements of the
present cost of filing prescriptions as COM
pared with the contract system.
The number of prescriptions filled at the
dispensary from July 81 TO Dec. 81, will be
in excess of $685. the number filled thus
far. OF these the majority are for such
ailments as prevail at certain seasons of
the year. The medicines are not expensive,
though costly preparations are frequently
called for. 1t IS shown the colored peo-
pie have by far the advantage of the sit
uation by reaping about two-thirds as
much from the dispensary as the whites.
This report will show that of the %, O52 pre-
scriptions filled, 1857 We're for the colored
people, while only $685. were for the whites.
Ihis is accounted for in the fact that med
icines are given only to those in absolute
need, and there being something over 60, 900
negroes in Savannah who constitute the la
boring element, it can be seen the demand
naturally predominates among them from
a numerical standpoint
In figuring up the costs of medicines to
the city, Mr.. O'Keefe finds there is re-
markable saving over the arrangement
which formerly existed when the city con-
traeted with the druggists to supply pre-
scriptions. The total cost of operating the
dispensary, including rent salaries, surg
zeal supplies for the city physicians, all of
whom are supplied by the dispensary, stock
OF medicines, light, fuel and other inciden-
tals, reaches s., So for the period men
toned. OF this amount there is now $500
of stock on hand, which makes the actual
operating expenses $2,6l4.95. or 10 1-S cents
as the average cost of prescriptions. IN
der the arrangement with the druggists
the average cost of prescriptions was rs
cents each, and when the old dspensary
was operated the cost was 40 cents each.
AS compared with the arrangement which
existed with the druggists, Mr.. O'Keefe
figures that the present dispensary has
saved the city near $3,679.61, quite an item
or economy when 1t is considered the de-
mand for such supplies is yearly increas-
ing.
Much of the saving is attributable to the
fact that the dispensary manufactures its
own preparations, and purchases nothing
except the ingredients. There is ample
room for the purpose, and a commodious
laboratory, supplied with all medicines
necessary for compoundiug prescriptions
has been recently added, and found to
be one of the economical features This
is understood to be the idea of Alderman
owens, chairman of the public health
committee OF council, and who has shown
an especial interest in maintaining the
dispensary and making it one of the i'm
portant branches of the city government
Alderman Owens has recently had mar
bic counters placed on the prescription
tables, and contemplates making more ex-
| tensive Improvements in the future
Some idea of the demand for the dis
pensary can be had from the number daily
applying for medicines. The prevalent
complaints at the present are coughs and
colds, with an occasional case of pneu-
monia. One hundred and fifty prescrip-
tons were filled yesterday for persons
complaining with these and kindred ail-
ments. 1t is, of course, the object to fur
nish only persons unable to pay for med
| icines, but the privilege is abused in many
cases, and remedial regulations in this
direction would not be untimely,
| Mr.. O'Keefe is well satisfied with his
report, and thinks it much better than
any heretofore made in this branch of the
! city affairs.