Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-08
Report OF the Directors.
showing.

! Deen the MOST prosperous one III lHt
! history Of the Augusta City Hospital
! The friends of the institution, who
| have stood by if so Loyalty in its earlier
struggles. and who have a just appre-
cation of the beneficent work it is do
ing in the community, may we'll fee
gratified at the very creditable record
! il is able to show for the past Il
months. There has been a distinct and
gratifying gain in equipment, in the
number Of patients treated, in the
scope and character of the work done
and in the wholly creditable results
attained.
This has been due in part TO the
| greater facilities of the present hos
ritaI home; in part TO the tireless de-
votion of members of the hospital staff
| in part TO the warm human interest
| that nOble-hearted men and women OF
| the community have taken in the pur-
poses of the institution, and in part
to increased means for carrying on the
work.
The hospital began the year 1900 with
a debt of $4,000 incurred on construction
account, and with liabilities coming
over from the previous year, incurred
lti thpSIlStS, " llle dIlUuul VI
S923.03. BY careful management these
cid bills have been settled. $1,000 paid
on the construction debt, the expenses
Of the year fully met, and a balance
left in the treasury. In addition to
this, largely through the generous
contributions of friends, furnishings
and. supplies to the amount of $108S.S5
have been added during the year to the
hospital equipment.
Additional rooms have been furnished
since We made our last report by Mr.
w. II. Gannett and Mr.. r. w. Soule of
Augusta The childrens ward, through
The efforts of the M Club and the
members of Miss Partridge's Kinder
garten School, who have together con-
tributed nearly $500 for the purpose
has been fitted out in a very complete
and attractive manner, and will COM
pare most favorably with any in the
State.
In addition to these generous dona
tons many useful and valuable con-
tributions have been made to the va
rious departments of the institution by
other public spirited citizens, detailed
list of which will appear in the reports
VI anu iiiilioiI
During the year. 169 patients We're
admitted to the hospital, SO on the
medical and III on the surgical side.
Including emergency and accident
cases there have been but II deaths
during the year, or only about per
cent. of the whole number treated.
This is certainly a record to be proud
Of. Including the work in the eye, ear
nose and throat department, there have
been 201 surgical operations performed
at the hospital during the year. many
| Of them complicated and difficult. with
only three deaths, one of which &C.
CURED with an emergency patient who
was received in a moribund condition.
| This plain statement of facts is the
best tribute that can possibly be paid
| to the high character of the profess
sionai skill enlisted in the service of
the institution, and conclusively shows
that 1t is not necessary for people of
this section of the State to go a long
distance from home and beyond the
reach of family and friends in order to
secure the best possible care and treat
ment
| Since the Augusta City Hospital
4
g. 1897. ii has cared for sos patients,
representing Is of the 16 counties Of
\ Maine.
Free beds have been maintained at
the hospital during the past year by
the Edwards Manufacturing Co. and
the Ladies Aid Society. The benefac-
tions that have come from them, add
ed to the gratuitous service which the
hospital has been able to render on its
ICwn account, make up total of more
than % per cent. of the entire work of
the hospital for 1900 which was done
Ion charitable account. The facilities
Of the institution have always been
4 available for the sick and the suffer-
ing Precisely the same painstaking
care and attention is given patients
treated free of charge as is accorded
pay patients. 1t has not been found
necessary to close the doors of the in
lstitution to any worthy man or wo-
man in need of it's ministrations. AT
the same time 1t is highly desirable
that the number of free beds in the
hospital should be increased in order
THAT its ability to meet the sick needs
of the deserving poor may keep pace
with its growth.
The hospital is entirely without en-.
dowment funds. and is dependent fol
its running expenses upon the con.
Itributions of it's friends. the receipts
from patients who are able to pay. and
the assistance rendered by the State.
No man or woman can do noblei
work for humanity. or leave behind q
grander and more enduring monument
than would come from a fund whose
income could be applied perpetually t
the intelligent care and relief of thu
sick and suffering.
During the past year 16 pupils were
admitted to the training school fo
1 nurses, 10 of whom are still on its roll
Three nurses were graduated, in thu
. period. and are doing efficient work il
! this and other communities.
The high standard Of instruction in
stituted at the start has been rigidi,
maintained. The members of the hos
pital staff have felt strong pride ant
interest in this department of its work
: with the result that our nurses hav'
, taken high rank in their profession
; and have made warm friends and sup
! porters for the institution whereve
they have been called.
During the past IL months 36 lecture
Il II mn r..