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REPORT OF THE PORT PHYSICIAN.

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS :

Gentlemen, The Annual Report of Quarantine, consisting of hospital records, vessels examined, and fees collected for the year ending April 30, 1872, is herewith respectfully presented :—

Patients remaining in Quarantine Hospital at Gallop's Island, May 1, 1871

Admitted,

Males

Females

Discharged
Died

10

58

14

72

82

63

10

73

9

Remaining in hospital May 1, 1872

A few are admitted to quarantine every year, not sick at the time, but having been exposed to or presenting some symptom of contagious disease. In some instances the disease soon develops,. and in others the symptoms soon disappear, and the person is discharged. The number who have thus been received during the last year, and who did not get sick, is ten, six of whom were taken from vessels in quarantine under the following circumstances: one had been badly exposed to small-pox, and five were either

mothers of sick children, or children of sick mothers, who could not well be separated. The other four were sent from the city, supposed to have small-pox, but proved to be ill from other causes.

The number, therefore, who were actually sick and received treatment was sixty-two; of whom thirteen were from vessels, five from the institutions at Deer Island, and forty-four from the city, via steamer " Henry Morrison." The diseases have been as follows:

Small-pox, 56; typhus fever, 5; yellow fever, 1.

There have been ten deaths during the year, all from small-pox. The duties of the hospital have been faithfully performed by Dr. C. I. Fisher, assistant Port Physician.

By order of the Board of Health, quarantine, for the inspection of all vessels coming under the regulations, was observed from June 1, 1871, until November 1, 1871, after which no vessel is required to stop at quarantine, unless she has sickness on board, of a quarantinable nature.

There have been six hundred and thirty-five vessels examined and passed during the year, and only fourteen of them detained longer than was necessary for inspecting and passing.

The following is a classification of the vessels, and fees collected on the same:

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No disease has appeared during the year which should cause alarm, and, on the whole, the duties at the station have been pleasant. There is now a fair prospect that a new steamer will be placed on the station during the coming season, to be used in boarding vessels, instead of the present means of boarding with an open boat. If this proves a success, it will not only add very much to the comfort of the physician in stormy or rough weather, bût will save at least one-third of the time now occupied in going to and from vessels.

With sincere and hearty thanks to the members of the Board of Directors for their repeated assurances of confidence in and kindness to me for the past five years, I remain with great respect,

Your obedient servant,

SAMUEL H. DURGIN,

Port Physician.

QUARANTINE STATION, DEER ISLAND,

BOSTON, May 1, 1872.

REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF LU

NATIC HOSPITAL.

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS :

Gentlemen, - On the first day of May, 1871, there were two hundred and thirty-three patients in our hospital, of whom one hundred and twenty-four were men, and one hundred and nine were women.

To-day, May 1, 1872, we have two hundred and thirtythree patients, one hundred and twenty-six of whom are men, and one hundred and seven are women.

During the year thirty-four men and thirty women have been admitted, and thirty-two men and thirty-two women have been discharged.

During this term two hundred and ninety-seven persons have sought and obtained such care and benefit here as our ⚫limited space and restricted means could afford them. That any have asked for help and been denied, that in any case the fullest measure of good that could be reasonably expected of such an institution has failed to be afforded, is a matter of the sincerest regret, but the responsibility thereof cannot attach to the Board of Management, who have sought with zeal and faithfulness, at all times and in every way, to enlarge its means of usefulness and to make it a constant and increasing source of benefit and pride to this community.

Of the admissions, sixty were made by the Judge of Probate, two by the Board of Directors, and two by the Superintendent. Of these, thirteen had previously been inmates of this, and nine more of some other hospital.

Of the sixty-four discharged, twenty-six had recovered,

nine were more or less improved, three had not improved, and twenty-six died.

Of the deaths, four were from general paralysis; four from pneumonia; three each from consumption, disease of heart, disease of brain, and exhaustion from chronic insanity; one each from apoplexy, epilepsy, chorea and dysentery; and two by suicide. In all of the twenty-six who died, except three, all hope of mental improvement had long been abandoned. In neither of the two cases of suicide did we have any knowledge of the suicidal disposition. Information sent by friends of one of the parties reached us after the fatal event. In the second case, the mental disease seemed to be rapidly yielding to the treatment adopted, and no thought of evil was suggested. Unfortunately she learned that she could not remain here until recovery was complete, and the disappointment and dread of going among strangers drove her to end all her troubles with her life. The attempt, although not immediately successful, was fatal. Her attendant was devotedly faithful, and could hardly have done more for her protection had she known that the danger was imminent.

During the year just closed the admissions have been forty-one less, the recoveries one less, and the deaths sixteen less than during the previous year. And the year closes with the same total of numbers with which it opened. The number of male patients', however, is two greater, and the number of female patients is two less now than then.

About the middle of December, the City Council, having failed, by a tie vote in the Board of Aldermen, to carry out the long-mooted proposition for the erection of a new hospital structure, requested the committing magistrate to send all future applicants for hospital care to one of the State Hospitals until we should obtain some substantial relief from our overcrowded state. Since then but four have been admitted, and these under peculiar circumstances of urgent need.

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