Connecticut western news., 1910-02-24
HILLCREST'S RAPID GROWTH
Pttsfields Famous Institution Receives
 Many Valuable Gifts.

TlIISIt6Iu dtIlOuS
 Many Valuable Gifts.
 A new X-ray machine costing $850 was given to Hillcrest hospital, Pitts field, last week, by "A Friend" whose name is withheld by request. The K ray machine is one of the best made and very powerful, and will do the most ex- acting work. It is the same machine as is used in the Mayo hospital ill Roches- ter, Minn., the most widely-k known sur glcal hospital ill America.
 The X-ray machines are much used in surgery in locating stones i'll the kidney, urcter, bladder, etc., and i'll the fine ad- jusrment of broken bones. The bones can be seen without removing the splints or dressings and can be kept in exact position. X-rays are also much used now in the treatment of certain forms of cancer and other diseases. Hillorest has been waiting until such time az r. could get the best X-ray machine ob- tainable rather than to buy cheap ono A complete photographing outfit came with it. It will be installed in a fea days as soon as received from the factory
 Hillcrest has been presented with the complete surgical and medical library of the late Dr. Washington Akin of Troy, N. Y. The library contains over 1000 volumes For many years Dr. Akin was the leading surgeon of Troy, N. Y, and his library is considered one of the best and most complete ill this section of the country. The library will be open for use of any physician or surgeon.
 Through the generosity of another ''friend'' long porch is being enclosed in glass to be used as a sun room.
 A new and complete laboratory has been established and is equipped with the most up-to- date paraphernalia. The laboratory is i'll charge of pr. William L. Tracy, associate surgeon at the hos pital, who is an expert in this line of work as we'll as X-ray work.
 TWENTY ADDITIONAL ROOMS.
 The money given has permitted the hospital to practically redecorate its ori, ginal building and furnish an additional building of 90 rooms for patients and another of IS rooms for nurses, so the in- stitutiOn with nurses home now com prises 76 rooms. The thr3e buildings have all been painted the same color and present an attractive appearance both inside and out.
 1 There have been over a thousand pa tients cared for at Hlllcrest and over 900 operations performed and in the neigh. borhood of 20OO surgical dressings done for "out patients" not confined in the hospital.
 WILL ENLARGE BOARD
 At the next meeting the board of gov ernors will be increased in number and some of the best known and most prom, inent men in the county have already consented to act on the board. There are 92 active members at present and 40 honorary members.
 There are twenty-six nurses and ten other employees at the institution. The capacity of the institution for patients is 36 and there was an average daily number of patients in the hospital for last month of 35 patients. There were 70 patients cared for last month as the average stay of patient is only two weeks, as the eases are all acute. A Urge amount of charity has been done and is increasing all the time. Surgical cases are operated upon free of charge if they are unable to pay for the same.
 The homelike atmosphere of the Hill crest hospital has won it large follow. ing throughout this section, and as peo. pie are becoming more familiar with the good work done there, more and more come all the time. It IS called the Mayo Hospital of the East" and pa tients come here from five or six differ ent states already for operations and ad, vice in surgical matters.-Berkshire | County Eagle.