✨ Hospital Report and Patient Statistics
77
when I fear every rain will saturate the wards, and every sunny day will draw out un-
healthy exhalations from the decayed timber of the structure; but the prospect of a
new, and, I trust, well considered and properly constructed building, will be a sure
incentive to all the Hospital officials to carry out their duties conscientiously and to
the utmost of their ability.
I am looking forward to the opening of the new Lunatic Asylum with great satis-
faction. The efficiency of the female side of the Hospital has been sadly crippled by
the presence of two lunatics, both at times very noisy and troublesome, and as there is
only one female ward it is almost impossible to admit cases requiring quiet nursing and
care, indeed it is only by turning the dining room into an extra and temporary ward
that medical cases can be admitted. At the present time the Hospital is inconven-
iently crowded, every available bed space is occupied, and the consequence is that the
wards at night are close and stuffy, although all possible means of ventilation are
put into force; this, in my opinion, is caused by the close animal atmosphere acting
upon the decayed vegetable matter of the building.
The accompanying table shows the number of patients admitted into the Hospital
during the year ending on the 1st April, 1873, and also the number treated as out
patients. This latter class so far exceeds in number any former year that it requires
the explanation that about one-third of them were cases of vaccination, brought to the
Hospital in accordance with the Vaccination Act of 1872.
Several months ago Captain Edwin Stafford, a gentleman who has upon several
occasions presented books and other things to the Hospital for the amusement of the
patients, and who has on many occasions been a liberal supporter of our local institu-
tutions, presented to me the handsome sum of £50, to be expended in any way I thought
fit, for the permanent benefit of the Hospital patients. In fulfilment of this pleasant
duty I have ordered from England medical appliances, such as bedsteads and water
beds, to the amount, and I hope that the next mail will bring advices of the shipment
of them.
Owing to the increased number of patients in the Hospital the housekeeping
expenses during the last three months have been greater than at any former time.
Hoping that this extra call upon the resources of the institution may only be tem-
porary, and that my estimates for the current year will prove sufficient to cover the
expenditure.
I have, &c.,
ALEXANDER JOHNSTON, M.D.,
Provincial Surgeon.
RETURN OF PATIENTS admitted into the HOSPITAL during the Year ending
31st March, 1873.
| Admitted. | Discharged. | Died. | In Hospital 31st March. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1873. | 1872. | ||||||||
| M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. | M. | F. |
| 99 | 14 | 80 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 31 | 4 | 19 | 5 |
The number of out patients during the past year has been 868 receiving advice
and medicine. This branch has nearly doubled during the last year, owing to public
vaccination.
ALEXANDER JOHNSTON, M.D.,
Provincial Surgeon.
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Wellington Provincial Gazette 1873, No 10
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Annual Report on the Provincial Hospital
(continued from previous page)
🏥 Health & Social Welfare8 April 1873
Hospital, Annual Report, Patient Statistics, Vaccination, Lunatic Asylum
- Edwin Stafford (Captain), Donated £50 to the Hospital
- Alexander Johnston, M.D., Provincial Surgeon