Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-07
Report Of the Directors for the Year
Encinq Dec. 81, 1903.

The year that has elapsed since our
last annual report has witnessed some
notable improvements in the equip
ment of the Augusta City Hospital,
md a marked increase III the number
If patients treated there.
The general work of the institution
has been greatly facilitated by the
addition of Il modern elevator. Like
most buildings constructed originally
for private use, the City Hospital was
not specially adapted for Il con-
venience of this character, and its
installation involved number of
architectural changes that added
materially to the expense. 1t was
'ound necessary to build shaft on
he south side of the building, con-
,ecting on each floor with the central
always running North and South.
A door opening into this shaft from
he south on the first floor enables
,atients TO be wheeled from the
mbulance directly on TO the elevator
4 order 10 make the elevator available
or the male ward on the first fioor,
Without interfering with other depart
,nrtG If tire Hospital, it WAS found
.eccssatN 10 bui.d Il corridor with
practically Il glass front on the north
Ide OF the dining room.
With these changes it is admitted
nat the best possible solution has been
ound to the elevator problem. As
COW located it is convenient to the
cards, the private rooms and the
Iperu ting room. 1t affords a safe and
asy mea.s for moving patients. that
las added in a large measure to the
cenerai efficiency Of the institution.
In addition to this important i'm
,rovemcIlt, the last year has wit
}ess,d the construction OF new
lurscs room, and Il now bath 70" tn
latroI-s quarters: both Of which will
Ill positive need. y serving kitchen
vas also constructed on the first floor
. meet the needs of ward patients
HI nurses room has been built from a
und specially contributed for such
Use. The apartment is still in need of
furnishings. and contributions for this
purpose will be thankfully received.
Since the Hospital first opened its
i0ors to the public, on April 9, 1898. it
laS cared for SSl patients. OF this
lumber 621 have been treated by the
members of the surgical staff. and $50
~ the members Of the medical staff.
During the year 1893. PA patients Were
omitted to the Hospital. 104 on the
medical and 40 on the surgical side
in increase of 60 over the number
Omitted during the year 1902. This
gain was. in a large part. due to the
latural growth and widening scope of
he Hospitals benefactions, as is
shown in the increase Of the patients
reatcd surgicaly. from 121 in 1902, to
: 20 in 1903. a gain of 40 during the past
2 months. There was also a con-
;idera bic gain on the medical side of
he Hospital. although the percentage
IF increase was not so large as on the
surgical side. In 1902 the medical
PATIENTS numbered 81. In 1908 they
104, a gain of 20. This in
crease was due in q large measure to
the prevalence of typhoid fever during
the winter and spring of 1908, which
for a number of weeks made excep-
tional demands upon the resources of
the Hospital, and did much to impress
upon the community a just apprecia
ton of the scope and character of its
work.
II addition to the number Of patients
admitted to the Hospital during the
past year, there were ell surgical
and II medical-who We're carried over
from 1902. making a total of 297
patients who have received care and
treatment at tire Hospital during the
y months covered by this report.
From the very start the City
Hospital has aimed to do the largest
possible amount Of free work. thus
enabling people without means, and
suffering from acute diseases. to
secure the best possible care and treat
ment A Hospital is not designed to
be a sanitariun or a permanent home
for incurables. Its object is to provide
for those who are still within reach of
such help. professional services and
nursing under the most favorable
conditions known to modern medical
science. It is obvious that one chronic
and hopeless case beyond the reach of
human aid. might occupy a free bed to
the exclusion of a score of patients. to
whom its opportunities would mean n