Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-01-06
Report of Directors.

III
ersta City Hospital, for the past year
Conducted under what may be fairly
regarded as the average condition of
health in the country, shows an in
crease in the number of patients who
have ayailed themselves of its care and
treatment. During the past year, 2S5
natients have been cared for at the
bosnital; 1G0 on the surgical side, Us
on the medical side and 10 eye and
car patients; an increase of "a over the
number treated in 1904. During the
vear. q accident cases We're brought
10 the hospital including six from
the railway accident at South Gardi-
ner. While the year has witnessed no
general epidemics in this section of
the state, there have been Il number
Of cases OF typhoid fever, - of which
have been cared for at the hospital.
There have been Il deaths during the
wear. two OF which were in accident
cases where the patients We're receiv-
ed in Il morbund condition.
The District nurse has made APO calls
during the year, many of them being
in obstctrical cases. where the bene-
fits of her skilled services can only
be known and appreciated BY the pa
ticnts thus succorcd and their at
tending physicians. While this de-
plrtment of the hospital work IS ca
rird on so quietly as to attract little
attention, the benefits it has been able
10 confer upon those in suffering ana
need are simply inestimable. 1t will
always be Il matter of pride and sat
jsfacttOn to thu. Augusta City Hospital
that it was the first institution of its
kind i'm Maine to institute and carry
OH this department OF work.
The close OF the year finds II pupils
in the training school for nurses. Five
having graduated during the year and
one was dropped. The members OF the
staff have. taken coinmendable pride in
maintaining Il high standard of in
struction in the school ana have given
a large amount Of time and thought to
the subjects taught. To this thOr-
ou.hncsS and car. in IL. nla.utcnanc :
of Il course Of Instruction n once. tl"r-
o,igh ana comprehensive. IS well as q,
the intelligent and Iiaiuatakin" work
Of the Supcrinte ndrnt q! i.ur.'"' has
been due thu very cr,.,liiiblr record
which the nurses of TIA. ii.,:stit"I. both
graduate. and undergraduate. h1V:. been
able t" make in their W"rk ia lie COM
rupiiy. While if~ie trif- thit tia.
success; Of any nurse depends ulii:::at' !
" upon her own t3ct. energy and ~
titudr fo- the work. We ftt in"t
in saving that the course at Instruction
in the Augusta City io&pitai Will not
suffer by comparison with th:tt IL other
similar Institutions.
While our Hospital has many nee Is.
one rf the most imperative is q home
for nurses which shall be Instinct from
tie other hospital buildings. While
many institutions, like our own, Still
h"uy. their nurses. of necessity, under
Tie same roof with their patients. it is
generally recognized as desirable to
avoid this whenever possible, ana
gradually. as means are provided.
hospitals are providing distinct and
separate homes for their nurses. The
demands upon Il nurse when engaged i'll
her work are constant and eXacting. 1t
is, therefore, desirable that She should
enjoy some reasonable measure of re-
taxation when not on duty. This is
difficult to provide when her room is
within easy hearing distance of patients
whose welfare imperatively demands
IN atmosphere of quiet and repOse. IT
is too much TO expect that the pupils of
Il training school should be able to
wholly efface themselves. and come and
go entirely without noise. AT the same
time ii is in the highest degree i'm
portant that everything that may in
any way disturb or annoy patients
should be. SO far as possible,
eliminated. For these reasons it is
highly desirable that as soon as posi-
BILE means should he found for the
separate housing of our nurses. so that
when not on duty they may bc out of
hearing as well as out of sight Of Oh,
patients.
IL view of the large amount OF
charity work which il is necessary for
the Hospital to do. amounting the past
year to =, weeks of free service. and
the place it fills in the needs of the
community. it would seem only fair for
the city to maintain an annual free
bed. We believe that such an eXpendi-
turr would be fully justified and would
meet with the appreciation of the COM
munity
As we have taken occasion to say III
previous reports. private benefaetioi1
also could be enlisted In no Worthier
cause tnan III the increase Oh the Hulit-
Der of free beds available for the care
Of worthy patients unable to defray the
regular hospital expenses, modest as
they are.
To the friends who so generously con-
tributcd To The success of Hospital day
and 10 those who through the year have
contributed to the pleasure and comfort
OF the patients in so many kindly and
thoughtful ways. we desire tn express
our grateful Acknowledgements.
The members: of the Hospital Aid
Society have been interchangeable If
their IaborS of love for the welfare oi
the hospital. and those under its care
Not only have they maintained free
bed during the year. but they hav,
generously given $3.50 towards the pay
ment Of the debt incurred in thu
original fitting ur of the Hospital a.
will appear in their annual report. an,
have also rendered substantial assist
ance in numerous other ways, all o.
which we deeply appreciate.
But two changes have occurred in The