New Britain herald., 1918-10-30
WORK OF HOSPITAL
DURING THE YEAR
Miss Bingham Reads Annual Re-
port at Tea This Afternoon

The annual hospital tea was held
this afternoon, and the report of the
secretary, Miss Mary A. Bingham,
occupied an important part on the
program. BY the report it is seen
that the funds of the hospital are
growing and many new conveniences
have been added during the year.
Several important changes have been
made at the hospital, both in the
buildings and in the personnel of the
nursing staff
The principal social event of the
year, the card party and dance held
at the Country club, was productive of
a gain to the hospital treasury Of
$1,04225. Due to the stress of con-
dltlons caused by the war, gifts to
the hospital and dollar memberships
are somewhat smaller than in previous
years. The report of the secretary
follows:
During this year of 1918 great
changes have taken place in many of
the institutions of our land because
OF the continuance Of the war, and it
is for this reason that our local hos
pital has likewise been considerably
affected. AS the call has come from
time to time for competent nurses to
go overseas the young women in train
ing have been moved to respond to
that call and several have left us to
enter the service of our country-chief
among them was Miss Clara Des
Jardens who for many years has been
assistant to the matron and has filled
her position most faithfully and ac-
ceptably. 1t was with great regret
that we severed our relations with
Miss Des Jardens, but we felt that
after her training at Camp Lee
Petersburg, Va, she would be a most
valuable addition to the work "over
there
We are also informed that Miss
Merrel who has been associated with
hospital work for some years and has
filled quite an important position is
about to leave US for work abroad
At this particular time when con-
ditions are so uncertain we are glad
to feel that our matron, Mrs. Bassett,
is still with us to carry the RESPONSE
bilities and interests of our institu-
ton. We are now getting to be a
large plant and if our members would
pay visit to the hospital many of
them would be surprised at the way
in which our work has broadened out
We notice quite an increase in the
number of nurses regularly employed,
there being nine graduate nurses and
twenty-nine pupil nurses including
prObationers. In order to house these
young women comfortably, one of the
buildings facing on Griswold street,
belonging to hospital property has
been converted into a home, and al
though the exterior is not specially
attractive the interior has been quite
changed and the result is very pleas
ant hOmelike place for the nurses
quarters. There is now, as ever, the
same need of more private rooms and
this year as in other years we could
use more rooms if we had them, but
at present we shall make no further
changes but do the best we can under
existing circumstances. There is of
course considerab BILE expense involved
in the upkeep of these private rooms
and that expense is in some cases met
by those who previously furnished the
room. The Traut room, for instance,
is kept up by the Traut families. The
wards are usually filled, and the free
bed is in use most Of the time. This
year there has been a greater call for
the Jane e. Case bed than ever before,
and we have used it to the limit of
its income. Of late the demands have
been so great that we have in some
cases allowed the bed to be used, the
bills being paid from our treasury
1t is the policy of our board not to
refuse, if possible, any worthy patient
nf ok of ies
for us to pause right here and CRATE
fully remember the one who some
years ago made it possible for those
sick ones to have the benefit of the
bed which she endowed.
I refer to Miss Jane E. Case. The
Maternity house and the Children's
house have so relieved the congestion
which existed before they were pro-
vided. that we almost wonder how we
ever maintained hospital without
them. The Maternity house is very
pleasant and sunny and the rows Of
small white cribs with a tiny occu-
pant in each interests every visitor.
The Children's house appeals to every
body and each person feels willing and
ready to do anything for a suffering
child At present there is a call for
good strong toys, dolls, Teddy bears
tea sets, in fact anything which in
terests a sick or convalescing child
In the past such things have been
donated, but they are in constant use
and soon get broken or useless and
need to be replaced. Probably it is
not known to all present that a chill
dren's free bed fund was started some
time ago, so that a sick child may
have the benefit of q free bed as we'll
it is the same as that of the bed for
older people. Contributions to this
fund would be a fine way of helping
the hospital. Our other funds remain
very much as they were last year.
O,,,c nnrnta ions WA I'd fund is M