The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1874-11-10 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

IWO • 1,101  19.483 Dr. MOORHEAD Said that as statistic,' were generally dry and uninteresting, and seldom intelligible except to their compiler& he would wake a few remarks upon the figures he had just quoted. In the first place, the aggregate number of out and in- patients under treatment during the year was just one short of a thousand, the largest number ever recorded at this hospital. The number of out patients had steadily increased from year to year. anti last year the increase was -1.3 on the previous year. Some might think this due to progressive unhealthiness of the town and vicinity; but he attributed it to the indiscriminate way in which tickets were often given away by subscribers. Applicants ought to be only such as were in indigent circumstruwes, and not in receipt of parish relief ; but they had patients sonte times who were able to pay for their medicine, or being paupers, were provided with medical attendance, through the Poor 'Asc. The former class of patients could procure advice at the Sanatorium, hut they must pay for their medicine, while the latter should be given over to the care of the l'. or Law medical officers. Though his colleague, Dr. Griffin, and himself felt the increase complimentary to them for their care; yet as the charity Was struggling under pecuniary difficulties, he felt it his duty to make these remarks. Only three deaths were recorded among !re out-patients and this appeared strange, as the average mortility was about 20 per IWO, and there had been nearly NW under treatment. He had heard some quizzical remarks, and it had been insinuated that the medical officers in their earnest desire to present a couleur de rose report, had been " hoist with their own petarrL" But those who were acquainted with she working of the charity knew it was quite irregular and accidental that they should have any death whateveramong the out-patients These received advice and medicine on condition of their appearing in person at the hospital. Whenever failing strength prevented their being present, they caused to he patients, falling into other medical hand& The three Mies were those of consumption who died suddenly from pulmonary hemorrhage Or other emergency. The local bills of mortality no doubt received considerable accessions front the Incurable class, as cancer, heart disease, advanced consumption, chronic asthma, Internal tumours, and so forth. Four deaths had occurred among the In-patients; the first that of an unfortunate man, who attempted suicide by cutting his throat: the mania, it was believed being the result of excitement connected with the late general election. Whether it was the result of the great Conservative re-action which operated on his mind he could not say, yet the excitetnent WAA sufficient to induce the man to draw a razor across his throat—(laughter). The doctor continued to tell of the other cases, one from a railway accident and a third from gangrene of the foot the result of heart disease. He also mentioned the case of a poor man from Shaftesbury, recommended by the Marchioness of Westminster, who kindly defrayed all expenses After relating the visit of this benovolent lady and Lady Theodore Grosvenor to the Hospital, and their satisfaction with all they SAW, Dr. Griffin thought the subscribers who contributed their silver and gold towards its support might feel assured that by so doing they were acting the part of Good Samaritans and doing • work of Christian Clarity. tAltoma read the following report of the committee to friends and subscribers of the institutien committee think that there Is wriawt muse for congratulation from the fact that, through the exertions of the friends ond subscribers of this valuable institglion, the sum of i:175 Be Oil was collected on Bolpital butiday, being sti Incresee over last year of 01 Ws 10d. The tr.:newer reported Om there wan due to the treasurer the sum of Os 717 d. Ile consmitte beg to 'call attention to the fact of the increase Is the annual expenditure of thls charity ; they will, therefore, ram** an additional number of sultscribers to meet the current expenses 764 treescirer reported that the late Dr Fowler bad urt, to the instituUe_,et to isid the death lila WkIQW. the sum of 000. This sum is to limn the nupleus or Ni endowment fund, whkh the onsonlttes mincer* bops will be augmented, so that the hospital may not have in future to depend entirely upon its subscription list for its support. The committee feel matured a generous public will not allow the usefulness of this charity to be curtailed through want of funds."_ _ . _  Mr. W. Fluor said it was a subject of congratulation for all to know that neither the Hospital. Eye Infirmary, or Sanatorium MIA in debt, and these buildln,o cost the best part of