REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. CITY HOSPITAL, BOSTON, April 30, 1875. TO THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL: GENTLEMEN: The Board of Trustees of the City Hospital, in compliance with the Ordinances, respectfully present herewith their Eleventh Annual Report. Number of patients remaining in the Hospital, April 30, 1874 Admitted during the year, Medical Surgical Ophthalmic Treated during the year Discharged Died Remaining in Hospital, April 30, 1875 Largest number in Hospital at any time. 238 1,968 1,389 67 3,424 3,662 3,130 291 3,421 241 285 188 2301 days 227 Number of patients treated in the out-patient department, classified according to their diseases: Number of visits to the Hospital made by each class: The report of the Superintendent and Resident Physician, presented herewith, contains, besides other information, a statement of the expenditures for the year, and is accompanied by the reports of the medical staff. These reports give details in regard to the number of patients treated in the Hospital and as out-patients during the year, with classified statements of their diseases and the results of treatment. The whole number of patients in the Hospital during the year was 3,662, and they were under treatment at an average of 227 days each, making a total of 83,848 days, or 11,978 weeks. The entire cost of maintaining the Hospital during the year, including every expenditure, was at the rate of as the cost to the city of treating 3,566 non-paying patients for a total of 11,752 weeks, which is at the rate of $9.84% per week. But by averaging the net cost of maintaining the Hospital for the year, among all the patients treated, we find that the average cost to the city of board for each patient was $9.41 per week. This cost includes all expenditures in excess of income and value of stock on hand in the store-rooms of the Hospital. 2 By comparison with the last report it will be seen that the daily average increase in the number of patients treated is seven more than in 1874. The total number treated is 227 more than in 1874, and 356 furnished than in 1874. more weeks' board has been During the past year a change has been made in the matter of the care of grounds, a gardener being now employed at a monthly rate of pay for the whole year. Nearly the whole expense of this department now appears in the account of salaries and labor, instead of buildings and grounds, as heretofore. It is believed that the change has been beneficial in many ways, beside the saving of from $600 to $800 of annual expenditure. A small glass house has been erected during the year for the purpose of saving and propagating plants. Built economically, heated by steam from the boilers of the Hospital, the movement is proving itself, at this early day, a most judicious one, and the Trustees are already considering the necessity of an enlargement of it. In connection with the flower bequest of Miss Mary L. Shaw, it will afford an ample opportunity not only of beautifying the grounds, but of contributing to the pleasure and comfort of the sick and convalescent, by the distribution in the rooms and wards of plants and flowers, always so grateful to the senses. The contents of the propagating house were appraised this past spring, by competent florists and seedsmen, at the sum of $1,200. The later yearly reports have alluded to the necessity, every year more apparent, of increased accommodations for patients. The Trustees are glad to say that decided action has been taken in the matter. The City Council of 1874 granted an appropriation of $190,000 for the enlargement or extension of the Hospital Buildings, and the larger portion of the year was occupied in arranging and perfecting plans for the purpose. This was necessarily a slow work and one requiring much careful thought, so that, when accomplished, the season was too far advanced to warrant the breaking of ground. This past spring, however, actual work began and contracts have been executed, under which it is confidently expected that the new buildings will be ready for occupancy next winter. The new structures embrace two main buildings, for medical and surgical treatment, two one-story pavilions, and one building for culinary purposes. The past years have been fruitful in experience regarding the treatment of disease, and in the plans for the enlargement of the Hospital the Trustees have endeavored to avail themselves of it, and with the aid of the valuable suggestions of Dr. Cowles, the Superintendent, and of the gentlemen composing the medical and surgical staff of the Hospital, they trust that the new apartments will be found to embrace all the improvements and requirements desirable in a sanitary point of view. It is believed that, with the increased accommodations now proposed, the expense of treatment per capita may be much reduced, and the comfort, convenience and effectiveness of the working force in all departments largely increased. The Hospital thus far must be regarded as in an incomplete condition, and the Trustees are now simply carrying out the |