Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-09

The following is the report OF the visit
ing committee:
To the Directors of the Augusta City
Hospital:
Gentlemen: Your committee appointed
to visit the Augusta city hospital would
respectfully submit its third report. The
following regulation of the board of di-
rectors specifies the duties incumbent
upon this committee, viz. The visiting
committee, one member or all. shall visit
the hospital a least once every week. at
their pleasure: shall inspect the wards
and other parts of the hospital deemed
necessary; shall carefully examine the
condition of every part of the establish
ment, and ascertain whether the officers
and attendants fulfill faithfully and hu-
namely their duties. They shall at least
once in each month examine and pass
upon the records and books kept at the
hospital by the matron and other officers
and may from time to time give orders
and directions not rcpusnant to the by
laws or to the rules and regulations Of
the directors, as to the management OF
the hospital and may employ such tenn
porary attendants and nurses as they
think necessary. In compliance with
these requirements one member of the
committee at least has visited the hospi-
tai as often as once each week. AT such
viSitationS the visiting member has care
fully inspected the wards and quite fire.
quently every part of the institution. The
records and books kept at the hospital
by the matron have frequently been eX-
amined and close inquiry Instituted into
the affairs Of the institution regarding
what occurred during the interval of the
visits. Your committee is pleased to state
that no complaints of i'll treatment or
lack of attention have been made by any
Of its patients, but on the contrary all
have expressed the kindlicst feelings
towards the matrOn and nurses. and have
given assurance that the closest atten-
ton has been rendered. An examination
into the sanitation and cleanliness of the
rooms and bedding occupied by the pa
tients have been satisfactory. The diet
also has received our attention. The food
has been well prepared of good material.
and well suited. in our Judgment. to the
physical wants of each individual
-Four nurses have graduated during the
fiscal year. all of whom acquitted them
selves well at graduation, are young la
dies of character and ability and we are
informed are prosecuting their profess
sion in a manner which emphasizes prac-
teal training. They are evidently. in a
very efficient manner, meeting the wants
and demands of the sick of the city and
surrounding country. We congra lula tc
our citizens that such increased opportu-
mites are afforded the sick. made avail
able by the existing agencies Of the hos
pital.
The number of patients under treat
ment has exceeued that OF last year.
there having been ~ males and So fe-
males. 1t speaks well of the medical and
surgical skill of the staff ana the supple
mental care of the hospital that out of
this large number of patients, many of
them suffering from eXcee dinghy critical
diseases. only seven have died. 1t may
be stated that the numerical status OF
the patients would have exceeded the
above figures except for the contemplated
removal to the new hospital which was
carried into execution November eth
After consultation it was thought best by
the directors to limit the number of ad-
missions far as possible in consequence
of the necessary change of patients from
the old to the new institution thereby
removing the liability of accidents and
recurrence of unfavorable symptoms
which might develop during the transfer
The nurses as a rule have been very
| free from sickness and with the exception
of one, who suffered quite prolonged a
! tack of typhoid fever, but who made a
IA pid convalescence nothing has occur I'd
to prevent them from being prompt al
| duty 1t is expected that three nurse
will graduate the coming year. thereb
making available a larger force, rea is
and fully equipped, to meet the increas-
| ing demands of a grateful public for
| trained services, who can inteligently
administer to the wants of the sick.
! The opportunities for better treatment
and care are greatly enhanced by the
environments OF the new hospital. ia