The Wrangell sentinel., 1932-01-15
Hospital Report Shows Increased
 Service, Decrease In Bills Paid

On this page is published the sne annual report of the Nrangeu general hospital showing operating and extra costs tor 1881, cash receipts, gifts, present indebtedness and amount due hospital for sery- ices, the latter item covering arrears as well as for the past year.
 The list of cash gifts for 1881 Is longer than that of last year put talls s2,15S.47 short of the amount given then. Other help which cannot be incorporated in a report of figures has been mention ed before but will bear repeating at this time.
 The Bills Club beautified their room last spring in addition to tnelr cash donation on the Fourth; the American Legion Auxiliary painted the Legion room beside making a cash payment of $45.55, the proceeds of card party, on the yiolet-ray lamp; the Altar Society and the Redmen made ex- tensiye improvements in their rooms; the Womens Civic Club performed the same service for the Arctic Brotherhood room and also gave $40 ill cash toward the paint Ing of the surgery; the Presby- terian Aid Society gave fifteen pairs oI pillow cases, and the Womens Auxiliary or Trinity Church, Washington, New York, sent a shipment of linen and supplies
 It is impossible to name the in diEiduals who have given jellies, jams, game and fish in season, help with repairs, and attentions that meant help and comfort to the staff. Business houses have shown remarkable patience in the face of delayed payments and reduced costs very considerably by dis counts.
 A number of interesting facts nave been gleaned from the hospital books. The first is a decided in- crease in hospital services during the past year, 1l2 patients having spent a total of 1526 days in the hospital. and about 10 patients having been in for X-ray, light treatments or dressings. Thirty major operations including obstet- rlcs and 26 minor operations took place. Even with the very low price which has been made for
 ight treatments, these amount to more than S90, and will no doubt pay for the lamp which was ac- quired in April, within another year.
 A fact which is less pleasing is that while there was a consider able increase in business, and con- sequent outlay in nursing services and other costs, the cash receipts were only s501.43 larger than last year. This fact coupled with the decided decrease in financial as- sistance from other sources has placed the burden of maintaining the hospital squarely upon the shoulders of a few of the business men of Wrangell, and necessitated the new ruling which went into effect January l that patients are required to pay weekly in advance. if the hospital is to continue to function.
 Last year, the special needs of the hospital were the violet-ray lamp, and repairs after five years of wear and tear. Both were met. The great need in equipment this year is an electric refrigerator be- fore the warm days of spring. The old-fashioned ice box which has served so far, but never adequately, is both figuratively and literally on its last legs. The linen needs are some white, crinkled, light weight bed-spreads, the old ones being patched to the limit, and table napkins for patients use.
 Bishop Rowe in a recent letter expressed his gratitude for the in terest which Wrangell is showing in the hospital and the Hospital Board joins him in grateful ap- of al halp oiu