Putnam patriot., 1916-09-15

and learned the cases, things moved welt. and now we say that we have had splendid time since January. It is the first time that have ever been allowed to give my whole time to the hospital work. There have been ai- most no calls upon me for outside work, and so although we have done lot Of work, 1 have fell more free from pressure than before. Me feel pleased with the record of the work not be- cause the numbers seen are larger than ever before alone, but because we have had chance to dc conscientious work for those needing us. The number of in patients has been nearly double what il used to be, but even then our beds have not been fuu, and we hope to use the hospital capacity more ade- quately the coming winter. The num- Der ,of treatments has been about thousand more per month than before, and the recorded total, which is good many below the real total, for the six months Is 26, ,344.
 In view of the fact that the war has made vast difference in the cost of medicines and has greatly decreased the amount of money coming to tbe hospital from American friends, and because it is the policy of the Board to encourage self-support in the medical work, we are developing the income from receipts as fast as possible.
 Mrs. kinnear has always been san- guine that il could be done, hut have been more hesitant. We found that it had been started when we came back and since Mrs. Kinnear has had charge of the medicines she has pushed it. It surprises me that the Chinese are will ling to pay such prices as they do for the medicines which l prescribe, and for other things that they need. The admission fee at the dispensary was increased little after we came back, but that accounts for small fraction of doubling of the income this half year.
 During June, which WAS a poor month on account of the feast of the Dragon Boats and the flood that we had, giving Us some of the poorest at- tendance that we have had at any time, our receipts were treble what they had been averaging before we came. This means a greater degree of confidence in Western medicine, sn in creasing willingness to pay for medi- cine and operations, a growth toward self.Support of the hospital, and bet ter class of people coming to us for ! help, Another source of income that will become increasingly important trust is the rent from private rooms. This is comparatively new thing for Foochaw, but some of the time we have had two or three rooms rented at once, and this income is pretty nearly clear gain,
 We were rather expecting an epi- demie of plague this summer, but thus far have had no epidemic of import ance We hear of cases of plague but have not seen them at the hospital yet. In fact 1 would call this pretty hea!thfal summer thus far. However tne powder is always in the magazine and no one can tell when il may be hred. We also hear of eases of cholera but i suspect the diagnosis Is not cor. rect or we would hear of more of them.
 We trust that you may all have happy and profitable summer and that you are keeping we'll and sstrong. Wish that we might have been ai that celebration.
 With kindest greetings to all the Putnam friends, remain, as ever
 Yours cordially,
 Ii. \. kinnear.