Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-12-18
BIG MARY FLETCHER
HOSPITAL DEFICIT
$4,000 More Spent for
Patients Than Was Received
the Past Year-Greatest Serv-
ice in the Hospitals History
The Officers and Staff

That the Mary Fletcher hospital Is one
OF the sufferers from the high cost OF
living to a striking degree while doing
the greatest work in its history was one
OF the chief developments in connection
with the annual meeting of the directors
held Friday afternoon. The annual
report of Treasurer G. p. Smith showed
that the income from all sources during
the year was 81, 7f2.so. while the total ex-
penses were $116,02577, leaving deficit
for the year Of $24,312.97, or nearly s25, 900.
War conditions had resulted in smaller
deficits in previous years. but the in
creased cost this year is the more note
worthy. since there were considerable
supplies on hand in various directions at
the beginning of the period. The inten-
ton of the founder was that the insti-
tuition should do certain amount of
charitable work, but out of the income
and not at the expense of any portion of
the fund itself. The wide prevalence of
the idea that the hospital was rich has
multiplied demands for the accommodate
ton Of charity patients from all parts
of the State. Moreover certain patients
sent by the State itself. have been cared
pital to treat them. These and other
factors have forced a situation upon the
directors. which calls for prompt remedi-
al measures. Manifestly the directors
will not bs warranted in drawing on the
principal of the endowment left by Mary
Fletcher to pay current expenses. The
alternative is less treatment for charity
patients, regrettsbe as t'1fs would be, or
tyr oAA
The report of Supt. n. A. Ladd showed
that during the year ending November
20, the number Of patients admitted 10
the hospital was 3,447. and the number
Of out patients or patients treated a, elm
ics, 925 making total for the year Of
4a72. The number of patients in the hos
pital on December | was 1H, and the av-
erage number for each day in the year
1000. The number of charity patients
admitted to the hospital during the year
was 229 and these with the out-patients.
who are also treated free In climbs mum
charity patients treated f154. The num-
her Of births at the hospital during the
year was 142
Not including out-pstients and babies.
the hospital cared for $3.50 patients dur
:
so. % for each person per week. nclud T.
ing all overhead charges At the same
time the hospital has been charging pa =
tents abundantly able to pay, but little
more per week for room medical or surg
ical attendance. nurse and everything,
than they would have 20 pay for nurse
alone at home.
OFFICERS AND STAFF
In accordance with the usual custom
the officers and attending staff we're
elected at tins meeting. the election of
consulting surxeons and physicians await
ing the recommendation of the staff as
usual at the adjourned annual meeting
to be held at the call of the president,
The officers for the year ensuing are as
follows:
Presdent--W. J. Van Patten.
Vice-President and Treasurer--r. p.
Smith.
Secretsry--A. G. Whittemore.
Auditor-Howard Crane.
Finance Comnittee-C. p. Smith, J. H.
Southwick and Howard Crane.
Superintendent and Medical Director
DR.. II. 4. Ladd
Assistant Medical Director--Dr. y. r
Caldwell.
Attending Surgeons-Drs. J. b, Wheeler
II. c. Tinkham, P. Z. insolvency and
Allen.
Attending physicians-Drs. W A.
Lyman. J. y. Jenne, c. NJ. Sabn and
c. H. Boecher
ProctolOgist-Dr. D. G. Hawiey.
Pathologist-- p. n. stone
Aurist, Laryngologist and Opthalmo
logist-Dr. NJ G. Twitcheli
Assistant Aurist. Laryngologist anc
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. T.. q. Twitchel
Obstetrician-Dr. p. T.. McSweeney
Assistant Obstetrician-Dr o. ~ East
man.
Genito-Urinary Surgeon-Dr. W. w
Townsend.
Pediatrist--Dr. &. X. Johnson.
Neurologist-Dr. F. W. Sears
Roentgenologist--Dr :. l.. Morrison
Board of Visitors--Dr. c. NJ Ferrin. Dr.
10. y, Eastman, Levi =. Smith, the Rt
Rev. G. Y. Bliss. the Rev. {. J. Staples
Professor 81. B. Cummings. Mrs. Roberr
Roberts, Mrs. 6. s. Isham. Mrs r. z
Fuller. Mrs, G. l.. Smith. Mrs. j. l.
Hall and Mrs. NJ. D. Chittenden.
GIFTS TO THE HOSPITAL.
Superintendent Ladd reported that the
MARY J. iotCnet iiospitdi RiuTlIlde dSSOCIa
tion had presented to the institution
ma hogany clock in memory of Mss
Luella Wheeler, the only graduate of Tho
hospital to die in the service during the
late war. This was regarded as an i'm
pressive tribute.
Orher appreciated gifts to the hospita
during the year included the following:
| From Mrs. w. S. Webb, 10 pairs Of pa
| jamas: from the Red Cross of Burling
| ton, large quantity of cotton batting
I surgical dressings and six dozen mems
! night shirts: from Mrs. T.. S. F1eury, sew
| en- small pillows, six feather pillows. 4
knitted wash cloths from Or. TinlShau
and DIR. Wheeler books; by Opportunits
and Whatsoever Circle of Kings Daugh
ters and All Saints Guild several layettes
| by Mrs. G. }. Russell books.
| The board OF visitors collected none,
from Burlington people and purchase,
a library table, Administer rus. must,
| rack, curtains and nine easy chairs fo
| the nurses lecture hall. Mrs. j. Holme
| jackson gave a book case and Mrs b
Fl. Stone several pictures for the same ant
| 400 books were given by w. G. c. s. whe,
their house was dismantled. The physi
| clans and surgeons gave candy and fruit
to the nurses at Christmas and the ED
worth League Of the Methodist Churcl
have given fruit and flowers to patient
| at different times Magazines have ais
been given.
go 0OO CIRVC HAVE