Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-07
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS.
For the Year Ending December 81
1902.

had not been before, since the return
of the Maine troops from Chickamauga
in 1898.
On the closing day of 1902 every prl-
yate room was occupied and outside
of the female and children's wards,
there was not vacant bed in the hos
pital. So rapid has been the increase
in the number of patients that have
come to us from various parts OF the
State. and so constant has been the
widening scope of the hospitals oene-
factions that the accommodations
which seemed so ample when we
moved into our present beautiful home
two years ago are already becoming
pinched. The rooms available Tor
nurses in training, are already occu-
pied. two nurses being assigned to
each Unless, therefore, further pro-
vision is made in this direction 1t VIII
not be possible 10 increase the present
number of pupil nurses.
The most noticeable improvements
during the year 1902 were the installa-
ton of q new Kny-Scheerer sterillZer,
and the fitting up of d new woman's
ward with thirteen beds. Both of
these changes have added materially to
the convenience and efficiency OF the
institution. The rooms formerly used
as q female ward have been utilized as
q male ward, thus putting all the ward
patients upon the first floor, making 1t
vastly easier to care for them, ana at
fording them the encouragement and
cheer that comes from well ventilated
and sunny apartments.
In fitting up the new female ward
the hospital was assisted by several
generous donations. Mrs. Lucy w.
Cony gave $3.50; Mrs. James G. Blaine
800, and The Ladies' Hospital Aid So
city 500. With this substantial as
sistance it was possible to secure the
very latest, and best equipment that
money Guild buy. Beside each bed is an
aseptic table of the latest and best
chair for general use, each patient is
provided with a large and comfortable
rocker.
During the year an effort has been
made to do the largest possible amount
of free work. In addition to the
amount which it has been necessary to
contribute for the maintenance of pay
patients in the wards-where the price
charged lacks between three and four
dollars a week of covering actual ex-
penses. the hospital has cared for and
treated thirtyseven patients entirely
free of cost. This is exclusive of those
who have occupied the free beds main
tanned during the year by the Ladies'
Aid Society, and the Edwards Manu-
featuring Company, both of which have
been constantly occupied--the latter by
employees of the company, or MEM
bers of their families.
There is n strong need for the extern
sion of this free bed service. In no
other way can $3.50 year be made to
do so grand Il work for suffering hu-
mainly.
An effort will also be made during
the coming year to further extend and
systematic the work of district nurs-
ing by which poor people will have
the free advantages of trained service
in times of emergency, particularly in
cases of childbirth. Great as have
been the demands of the hospital upon
it's force of nurses, owing to the in
creasing number of its patients, and
impossible as it has been to meet fully
the calls from private families, able
and anxious to pay for trained ser
vice. it is felt that those within reason
able reach who are in poverty and dis
tress and who, for one reason or an
other cannot be moved to the hospital,
have claims upon it's kindly ministra-
tions that must not be overlooked.
During the past year 205 patients
We're received and cared for at the hos
pital. IS on the medical and 120 on the
~ 4.
males and III females. The total
number of deaths during the year from
all causes was 12-6 in the medical and
in the surgical division shows that
10 operations We're performed at the
hospital during the year, with only
four deaths-a record that speaks for
itself.
Since the hospital was opened in the
spring of 1898 it has cared for 713 pa
TENTS representing every county in
Maine, and many places beyond its
borders.
The improved equipment of the hos
pital the increased number of patients
treated free of cost the larger num-
Der of nurses in the training school,
and the higher prices of fuel and pro-
expense of maintenance during the
past year, and as a result the treasurer
will carry over into 1903 unpaid bills
to the amount of $1250.2S. The earn
ings of the nurses who have gone out
from the training school for service in
private families have been applied to
the reduction of the debt incurred in
the purchase and repair of the present
hospital home One thousand dollars
has been paid on the principal of this
debt during the past year, in. addition
to interest amounting to $250. r
During the past twelve months there
has been gain of 81 ,63460in the gen
eral equipment of the hospital. Prac-
tically all of this has come from the
private contributions of citizens who
feel "a personal interest in the work of
the institution. and who have it's well
fare at heart. While $610.57 has been
paid out of the treasury during the
year for furniture and fixtures it is
more than offset by cash contributions