The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-20
THE LYING-IN HOSPITAL.
Annual Report shows ass Applicants
for Relief During the Past Year.


The annual report Of the Society Of the
l.ying-in Hospital, Second avenue and Sew
enteenth street. just issued. states that the
hospital has now been open some eight
months, and during that time .27s appli-
cants have applied for ward treatment.
giving an average OF 100 per month. but
owing to lack Of means it was only possible
to Use one ward Of sixty-two beds for this
service Besides the Society OF the Lying
in Hospital there are twelve other institu-
tions in this city receiving maternity cases,
with total capacity Of less than 600 beds.
The facilities Of the Department of Chart
ties consist Of six beds In the Emergency
Hospital on Twenty-sixth street and fifty
beds In the ward Of the Metropolitan Hospi-
tai and pavilion Of the City Hospital on
Blackwel1s Island. The society's build
ing, therefore. with 1876 beds. affords ac-
commodaton almost equal to one-third
of all these institutions.
The society during the year past ex-
pended out Of its investment fund, In the
maintenance of one ward, the sum OF $685.
l2030. Many have been turned away
owing TO lack Of accommodation. If the
three wards had each been opened 1t would
have insured care and treatment for large
number OF worthy applicants who had TO
be denied.
All the society lacks at present Is a proper
endowment fund TO enable 1t to increase
its work, and IL Is confidently believed by
the board OF governors, that with build
ing so well adapted H. the society's, and so
complete in every detail, money will event
ua!y be forthcoming to prevent in future
worthy applicants from being turned away.
and enable every bed in the present empty
wards 10 be occupied
For the year ending Sept. 30, 1902 the
report states that the number Of births in
This borough, according to the official re-
turns Of the Health Department. amounted
To 81 ,8ss, This exceeds the figures of last
year by 400, and indicates that on an
average one child was born every ten min
utes.
The number of the society'- cases show
largely increased service over those cared
for during the previous year, the appl-
cants being 4,sl5, an increase, OF I ,05s. or
these the society admitted in it's hospital
building SIS.
In the outdoor department the greatest
number of applicants in any one month
was during July, 501. and the least in De-
ceInber, 800
II Is stated in the report that the average
wages received by the husbands who were
employed amounted to only about 81 20
a wees. and the average rent expended
SIS per month, leaving a balance of 81
food, clothing and fuel. The report says
that il il easy from these figures To prove
the destitute condition Of the class treated
10y the society and their inability to save
anything for medical aid.
The report believes that demands on
charitable institutions i'm this city increase
from year 20 year in caring for aud giving
to many of these people who remain here
proper medical service.
Ia the diet kitchen some 1928 families were
relieved, al an average cost OF less than
S? 90 family, being provided with food
and other necessary articles for two weeks
or longer during the illness Of the mother.
The Ladies' Auxiliary has greatly as
sisted the society in systematic work
throughout the tenement districts and con-
ssts now OF 3ll members. The auxiliary
supplies scrubwomen to clean the rooms of
the patients in the outdoor department,
who wash clothes care for the children, cook
meals and relieve the patients in various
ways. Some l2Ii3 garments were dis
tributed
The educational work has made great adj
vance. Two hundred and nine stud ents
and thifty-nine graduates have received
instruction, and ninety nurses have taken
the usual three months course, attending
lectures and gaining valuable experience
under the supervision OF the medical board
The amount OF money expended by the
society during the past year was $751; IL.
of cases treated in lis outdoor department,
and states that these chow slight de-
crease compared with those relieved by
the society year ago, although the num-
her of applicants was very much larger.
l. Is believed that this is due 10 the fact that
with the present facilities all the work Is
being done that can be done, and that in
denying aid To many applicants, some
l.3?0 during the past year, IL IL beCa,lse the
society Is absolutely unable 10 provide
for them owing 10 lack uf means
Tho report states that the past year may
b. considered memorable one in the his
tory Of the society. not only on account Of
the large number of destitute patients
treated, but owing also To the completion
and Use Il it, new hospital building, where
such great facilities are now offered for
the benefit of suffering humanity. and
which only now awaits sufficient entow-
men' fund to enable /; IN perform a vast
work Of good among the destitute poor Of
this city,