Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-13
HOSPITAL REPORT.
Expense of Institution for Past
Year $7,12e.7e.
Is PATIENTS TREATED IN JANUARY.
Regular Monthly Meeting of the Asso.
citation Held Wednesday After
noon-A General Review
of the Work.

-. -
of the Work.
[From Saturdays Daily.1
The total expense of conducting the
Ottumwa hospital during the year
ending Dec. 81, 1899, was $7,12S.79, as
shown by the annual report of Alice
Spilman, chairman of the soliciting
committee and submitted to the asso-
citation at its regular monthly meeting
held at the home of the vice president,
Mrs. L. A. Fulton, on North Court
street, Wednesday afternoon. The re-
port of Elizabeth Trotter, superintend-
ent of the institution, submitted at the
same time, showed that there was a
total of twenty-five patients treated
during the month ending January 81,
1900. The list of donations received
during that period was very crafty
ing, and the work of the institution in
general is thoroly exhausted in the
several reports as published below.
The meeting was presided over by
the president, Mrs. ID. H. Emery, and
was attended by large representation
of the members of the association. The
reports above referred to were received
and placed on file. Lists were ordered
for distribution among the solicitors
for the coming year. thus placing the
work in hand in position for an intel
ligent and systematic beginning of the
same.
The month just ending has been, in
some respects, a trying one for both
superintendent and nurses. There has
been number of very sick patients.
Several deaths have resulted from ac-
cident or pneumonia following typhoid
fever. The death record from other
sources will be found to be very low
in this institution. A number of surgi-
cal operations have been performed in
the hospital of late. A number of skill
full and intricate operations have TAX
en- place, restoring life and comfort
where few years ago different re-
suit would have been inevitable. The
Ottumwa Hospital association is in
deed entitled to considerable praise for
the establishment which it has builc
from very small beginning, placing
it on an assured basis and making it
prime necessity in the community.
Many, even scores, have had opportun-
ity to bless the open door that receiv-
ed their sick, and there to restore them
to life and health. There are those
beyond the city limits who have taken
advantage of this institution and have
gone away with good word which
resulted in bringing others to its pri-
vate wards and rooms.
A trained nurse may be secured here,
even for a few hours. Her services
may be secured in the homes either in
or out of the city. AS long as pupil
nurse is in the service of the associa-
ton she is at it's disposal. Physicians
and others find this arrangement ex-
ceedingly helpful, especially in cases
of emergency. 1t is quite an educa
ton for the nurse, and also affords a
field of practice of the greatest value.
The expense of conducting an insti-
tuition of this kind is very great as will
be shown by the appended financial
statement. The vastness of it will be
a surprise to many no doubt, as will
also the fact that the difference be-
tween the receipts and expenditures
are growing substantially less each
year. AS one of the members express
ed it recently, ''This will probably
continue to be the case until some big
hearted philanthropist comes to our
assistance with sufficient fund to
erect an ideal building and conduct the
same as we desire. Until that time we
will be compelled to go plodding on
as in the past, content with the good
we have done and that which we are
prepared to accomplish in the future.
Some Improvements have been un-
der way at the hospital of late. The
room donated by Mrs. 1. N. Mast and
known as the 'sMary" room, is done in
a tint of sea green and is inviting.
The rooms furnished by the Fortnight
ly club, the p. e. o. society, the
Shakespeare club, and the ST. Luke
room are rich, attractive and beautiful,
and many times these desirable sur
roundings have more to do with the
recovery of the patient than is imag-
ined.
Miss Mabel Cummins, of Moravia,
has been accepted as student nurse.
The students in this institution are
admitted first for one months trial for
the purpose of ascertaining if they like
the work, and more especially if they
are adapted to it. A great many en-
thusiasts conclude after one months
discipline that nursing is not the pro-
fession they would choose, while 9th
ers grow more and more enthusiastic
as they progress in the work.
The association is greatly in need
of old linen and makes ar. urgent APP
peal for donations. Old sheets will be
especially acceptable at this time.
Mrs. Alice Spilman, chairman of the
soliciting committee, has requested
Miss Trotter, the superintendent of the
hospital to make detailed report OF
the expenses OF the institution and al
SO set out the various ways by which
it is supported. When completed the
report will be interesting to all who
are concerned in the work and will
demonstrate the way in which the in
stitution is kept going.
Superintendent's Report
The following is the report of Miss
Elizabeth Trotter, superintendent of
the hospital, showing the number of
patients treated during the month,and
also giving list of the donations re-
ceived during that period:
Number of patients admitted during