74

days. 3rd. T. D., labourer, aged 23 years. Admitted February 30th, with dysentery, occurring soon after recovery from fever. Died April 4th. The mucous membrane of the large intestine was found extensively ulcerated. 4th. E. R., female, aged 30 years. Admitted on September 18th, in the last stage of chronic dysentery, and died October 6th. 5th. A. G., labourer, aged 24 years. Admitted March 31st, for disease of the lungs and larynx, attended with hoarseness and almost complete loss of voice. In the end of April, he was attacked with dysentery, and died on May 11th. The large intestines were found extensively inflamed and ulcerated. A polypous growth as large as a pea was found in the interior of the larynx, and the right lung was infiltrated with pus.

Dropsy.

Two cases of abdominal dropsy, or "ascites," proved fatal. 1st. H. K., a discharged soldier, aged 40 years. Admitted March 21st, with enormous collection of fluid in the peritoneum; was tapped without permanent relief, and died on April 9th. The liver was greatly enlarged. 2nd. R. W., labourer, aged 36 years. Admitted July 21st, for general dropsy, dependent on diseased liver. Died August 30th. The liver weighed 4½ lbs. The heart was fatty and lungs tubercular.

Scrofula.

One case of scrofulous glands, L. M., a Portuguese sailor, proved fatal on April 27th, after two months’ sojourn in hospital. The lungs and heart were found diseased.

Uterine Scirrhus.

There were two fatal cases of this disease. 1st. A. D., aged 40 years, suffered from floodings, pain, &c., for many months, was admitted on July 21st, and died on September 2nd. The uterus was found in a putrid state. 2nd. A. P., aged 42 years, a very similar case to the last. The ravages of the disease involved the bladder and rectum. Death took place on December 10, after distressing and protracted sufferings.

Fractures.

D. N., labourer, aged 25 years. Admitted April 25th, ten days after having received a compound comminuted fracture of the left leg, with extensive laceration of the muscles and integument. When received into hospital, the limb was gangrenous, and the strength was so far exhausted as not to admit of amputation. Very soon locked-jaw and tetanus set in, and death took place on May 3rd.

Burns and Scalds.

H. P., aged 53 years. Admitted July 13th, severely burned over the greater part of the body, in consequence of her clothes catching fire. As in the last case, locked jaw and tetanus occurred, and the patient died on July 16th.

General Debility.

Five cases of general debility are returned as having proved fatal. The average age of each of the patients was 73 years.

Cases in Hospital.

A few remarks will now be made on the 65 cases which remain in hospital at the end of the year. 30 of them may be regarded as chronic cases, consisting of blind, paralytic, epileptic, rheumatic, infirm, and idiotic. They are permanent inmates, and have no other house of refuge than the hospital.

Of the 35 remaining, there is 1 case of fever, likely soon to be discharged cured. Of abscess and ulcer there are 2 cases, promising favourably; one of them is a specimen of the good effects of conservative surgery, viz., a case of recovery with a useful limb after a compound comminuted fracture and dislocation of the ankle. The duration of this case was 16 months. There is 1 case of erysipelas getting well. There are two cases of idiocy, 1 of chronic bronchitis, 3 of dysentery progressing favourably. 1 case of abdominal dropsy, dependent on diseased liver, has been several times tapped, without more than temporary relief. 3 cases of rheumatism, 4 of syphilis, 1 uterine, and 5 fractures, are remaining from last return, progressing slowly to a cure. 2 simple fractures of the leg are doing well, and two compound, also of the leg, likely to recover. There are two cases of compound dislocation of the ankle, in which the main bone of the leg was protruded through a lacerated wound of the soft parts, by falls from a height. In both, immediate reduction was practised, and the lips of the wound closed. One of these men was able to walk in eight weeks from the time of the accident; the other is still in bed, but is likely to make a satisfactory recovery. There remain 1 case of cutaneous disease; sprains and contusions, 3; general debility, 5.

Remarks.

During the past year several improvements have been effected in and around the premises. The site of the hospital has been carefully drained, and 14 iron tanks have been substituted for the old wooden pipes. There is still, however, need of a much larger supply of water for our increasing number of sick. From the rapid influx of population, there is an urgent necessity for enlarged hospital accommodation. At present much crowding exists.

The number of visits paid by strangers during the year, exclusive of those of the patients’ friends, was 654, as follows:—

His Honor the Superintendent ... 11
The Superintendent of Nelson ... 1
Members of Provincial Council ... 5
Ladies ... 134
Ministers of Church of England ... 97
Presbyterian Ministers ... 40
Nonconformist do. ... 45
Roman Catholic do. ... 158
Medical Men ... 75
General Public ... 88

A donation of religious books from the