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THE NEWCASTLE HOSPITAL.
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TnE annual report of the committee
of the Newcastle Eospital contained a
highly satisfactory account of an in
stitution which for many years past
has been of immense benefit to suffer
ing humanity. The medical report
showed that during 1890 no less than
547 patients had been admitted into
the hospital for treatment, :and
that the number of out-pa
tient attendances had been 511.
Many of the cases were of the
mosc severe character, the injuries
having been incurred in connection
with mining, shipping, and railway
work; and when this fact is con
sidered, in connection with the low
condition in which many of the non
surgical patients are brought to the
hospital, the rate of mortality on all
cases-7-68 per cent.-must be re
garded as alow one. The number of
patients who were discharged, cured,
was 382, while 63 were discharged re
lieved; and a record of work such as
this during one short year entitles
the institution to the utmost sym
pathy of the public. To towns
like Newcastle large numbers of
strangers continually resort, and this
city has its full share of people who
can obtain a shelter and care while
they are in health, but who would
probably die friendless and alone if
it were not for the chances of life and
health which are afforded them by the
hospital. From small beginnings it
has increased to a healing institution
of the first rank, and it becomes, there
fore, the duty of the people of New
castle and the surrounding district to
give liberally that support which is
absolutely necessary to its continued
usefulness. It is highly gratifying to
know that many members of the com
mittee not only contribute in hard
cash to the funds, but are ever ready
to minister in other ways to the com
fort of the patients during con
valescence, and to relieve that
tedium which must weigh heavily
upon the spirits of persons phy
sically enfeebled. Every act of
assistance, oither financially or other
wise, brings it own reward. `For
mercy is " twice blessed ; it blesseth
him that eives and him that tarkes."
The great improvements to the
building which were completed
a few months ago have tended
greatly not only to the comfort
of the patients, but to the success
ful performance of duty among
the medical and nursing staffs. This
must ultimately mean an improve
ment in the results of treatment, and
probably'a decrease in the rates of
mortality. The addition of an ambu
lance waggon, constructed on the most
modern and scientific principles, to
the appliances of the institution, was
absolutely necessary owing to the
large increase of surgical cases from
the newer districts, in which a good deal
of mining work of a pioneering
character is being carried out, and to
which, unfortunately, a considerable
amount of danger attaches. By this
vehicle injured people arriving by
train can be brought from the railway
station to the hospital in a manner
which reduces the results of ex
haustion and shock to a mini
mum, and conduces greatly to
the possibility of successful treat
ment. The construction of a
lift from the basement to the
upper stories is also a great addition
to the labour-saving appliances of the
institution, and to the comfort and
well-being of sufferers who have to
be moved. The improvements for
increasing the ventilation, while at
the same time moderating the glare
of sunlight, are also steps in the path
of progress, and show that the com
mittee, who are thoroughly repre
sentative of all classes of the com
munity, are determined to carry out
with energy the duties of the trust
reposed in them by the public.
One jarring note was struck at the
annual meeting of the subscribers on
Wednesday, and that was the appa
rent apathy of the Government with
regard to the responsibility of the
State in respect of their share of con
tribution to the finances. We say
"apparent," because it is hardly
credible that the Government
could be wilfully disregardful of
the claims of an institution which
by its very nature relieves the State
of considerable responsibility. A large
proportion of the patients is recruited
from the poor, who, if they did not
receive treatment in the hospital,
would have to be taken charge of by
the Government. The care of the
poverty-stricken, whether in health or
sickness, has in all civilised countries
been admitted to be a duty
which must, in the last in
stance, be discharged by the State.
There therefore ought never to be any
delay on the part of the Governmalent
in responding to calls made upon
them when these are in strict accord.
ance with the regulations laid down
by the State for the granting of suab
sidies to hospitals. It is therefore
exceedingly surprising, and, indeed,
inexplicable, that the Government
should have refused the subsidy to
which the institution was entitled by
the raising of £306 last year by that
staunch friend of the hospital,
Mr. O. H. HAXNELL, who by public
concerts and other gatherings has
materially aided the committee in
overcoming their monetary diffculties.
On the 8th May last a deputation
waited upon the Colonial Secretary,
and letters have also boon addressed
to him on this subject, but to these
representations no reply has been
received. It is believed that the
accident to the Premier has had
something to do with this unsatisfac
tory phase of the relations
between the Hospital Committee and
the Government, but it is hoped that
a careful consideration of the request
will result in the receipt of a favour
able reply. Certainly, the position
taken up by the committee, that
Newcastle, as a seaport second only
to Sydney, and the temporary resi
dence of large numbers of people with
peregrinating occupations, should
be treated as to its hospital
similarly to the metropolis with
regard to its hospitals. But, in
stead of being placed by the Govern
ment in a better position than country
hospitals, the reverse is the case, at
least in one instance. Notwithstand
ing that about 2C0 cases only were
treated in Maitland Hospital during
last year, the Government voted
our Maitland friends no less
than £2000, as reimbursement
at the rate of pound for
pound for improvements made to their
institution. The Newcastle people can
only put one construction on the
different treatment received by the
committee of the Maitland Hospital
from what has been accorded the
committee of the Newcastle Hospital,
and bear with what equanimity they
can muster the perpetration of another
act of injustice by the half-dozen men
who rule the destinies of this country.
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