TORRES STRAITS HOSPITAL REPORTS AND BALANCE-SHEET FOR THE
YEAR 1899.
TO THE SUBSCRIBERS. Committee’s Report
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—
Your Committee beg to lay before you their Report for the
year 1899.
The Surgeon’s report shows that the work of the Hospital has
been steadily maintained.
Dr. Salter, who during the early and succeeding years of the
Hospital showed a deep interest in the institution, has temporarily severed his
connection with the Island in order to enjoy a well earned relaxation from
work. On his invitation Dr. White has temporarily filled the position vacated
by Dr Salter, and the Committee having satisfied themselves from some months’
experience of Dr. White, that his professional services will be acceptable,
have confirmed the temporary appointment and placed him in permanent charge of
the Hospital.
During the year a sum of £258 has been spent upon various
necessary improvements.
It is proposed to erect a new ward to be specially reserved
for fever cases, and the Government has consented to contribute half the total
cost, which is estimated at £460.
The Treasurer’s report shows that the financial position is
a satisfactory one, and the Committee avail themselves of this opportunity to
express their gratitude to Mr. Hamilton, the member for the district, for
timely assistance in securing the support of the Government to our institution,
which has proved itself of the greatest utility to the seafaring population.
We feel bound once more to call attention to the paucity of
European contributions. In this respect the Japanese portion of the community
are distinguished by very laudable benevolence.
Your Committee are very glad to be able to bear testimony to
the efficiency of the official staff.
Now, there are a few suggestions I beg leave to lay before
you with regard to the Hospital and its management.
Firstly—The question of the establishment of private wards
in connection with the Hospital, into which could be admitted patients who can
well afford to pay a medical man for his services, but who for various reasons
cannot be treated outside—for instance, residents in hotels, &c. These
patients could have privileges which we cannot extend to patients in the
ordinary wards, and might be liable to a fee such as £3 3s. per week. There
need be no special expense incurred in the establishment of these wards except
isolation from the rest of the Hospital by lattice-work. I should recommend
that that portion of the main building which is at present used as a
consulting-room and operating-room should be converted into one; a large
ventilator be constructed through the roof, which improvement I regard as
absolutely necessary even at the present time; and that a new consulting-room
and operating-room with skylights in addition to windows be built, connecting
with the main building by a covered way.
Secondly—I would recommend the engagement of a thoroughly
qualified hospital nurse, experienced in surgery, medicine, and midwifery,
under whom should be placed at least two female probationers whom she would be
expected to train in the proper performance of their duties. This would
necessitate the erection of two additional bedrooms.
Thirdly—I should recommend in order to ensure greater purity
of the water collected from the roofs of the Hospital some scheme be devised
whereby the first water to fall (which naturally washes the roofs) could be
diverted into certain tanks kept for certain purposes; and when the water is
coming off the roof perfectly pure it could be turned into tanks kept expressly
for drinking and for surgical and medical purposes.
Fourthly—I should recommend that the underside of the
verandah roofs should be painted a dark green to promote coolness; and that
something be done in the way of ceiling the lock wards. I would also like to
point out the necessity of having some sort of a screen in front of the door of
the morgue, so that when work is going on the door may be kept open without
shocking the sensibilities of the passers-by.
There are a couple of other matters I would like to draw
attention to. One is the difficulty of treating properly the cases of secondary
syphilis occurring among the men working in the fleets. This is a disease which
if taken in time and thoroughly treated for a space of twelve or eighteen
months, is distinctly curable, but if not so treated it reaches a stage in
which the sufferer is more or less unable to follow his regular employment.
Therefore the importance of treating it thoroughly in its earlier stages. Now I
could mention instances where I have examined patients, have given them
medicine to take away with them, and have also given them letters to their
employers directing that they should present themselves from time to time for
further supplies. As an invariable rule I never see these cases again.
Another matter is the number of cases sent into the Hospital
when it is too late to render assistance. It would be to the interests of the
employers of labour to see that these cases arrived at the hospital in a more
hopeful condition. When cases are sent in from the fleets those responsible for
them should see that they are brought to the Hospital. Of course with residents
of the island, they are their own masters and can do as they think best
themselves.
G. V. WHITE.
Hon. Treasurer’s Report
In presenting the statement of Receipts and Expenditure for
1899 it should be noticed that there is due to the institution from the
Government the following amounts, which are not included in the statement:—
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
Endowment on Subscriptions for fourth quarter |
169 |
8 |
0 |
|
Refund of Seamen’s Contributions for third quarter |
176 |
18 |
0 |
|
Endowment on Seamen’s Contributions for third quarter |
176 |
18 |
0 |
|
Refund of Seamen’s Contributions for fourth quarter |
97 |
4 |
0 |
|
Endowment on Seamen’s Contributions for fourth quarter |
97 |
4 |
0 |
|
Total |
717 |
12 |
0 |
|
From this has to be deducted several outstanding accounts
to the amount of |
113 |
18 |
7 |
|
603 |
13 |
5 |
|
|
Credit Balances at Banks |
1643 |
17 |
8 |
|
Total |
2247 |
11 |
1 |
WILLIAM HARRYS, Hon. Treasurer.
TORRES STRAITS HOSPITAL
Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year 1899
Receipts
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
To Balance, 1st January, 1899 |
852 |
11 |
11 |
|
Private Contributions |
155 |
18 |
6 |
|
Endowment on Contributions |
157 |
3 |
0 |
|
Seamen’s Contributions |
618 |
5 |
0 |
|
Endowment on Seamen’s Contributions |
1016 |
4 |
0 |
|
Police Court Fines |
54 |
15 |
0 |
|
In-door Patients |
59 |
4 |
0 |
|
Out-door Patients |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Interest |
31 |
8 |
9 |
|
Total |
£2946 |
10 |
2 |
Expenditure
|
£ |
s. |
d. |
|
|
By Building and Improvement Account |
258 |
2 |
6 |
|
Furniture and Fixtures |
8 |
4 |
4 |
|
Bedlinen and Drapery |
35 |
1 |
4 |
|
Groceries |
344 |
11 |
9 |
|
Meat, Bread, and Vegetables |
214 |
13 |
3 |
|
Wood, Water, and Laundry Work |
45 |
0 |
11 |
|
Advertising, Printing, and Stationery |
20 |
3 |
10 |
|
Drugs and Surgical Instruments |
128 |
7 |
2 |
|
Interments |
53 |
5 |
0 |
|
Salaries and Wages |
575 |
12 |
0 |
|
General Expenses |
119 |
10 |
5 |
|
Bank of North Queensland (Balance per 31st December, 1899) |
1143 |
17 |
8 |
|
Total |
£2946 |
10 |
2 |
Bank of North Queensland, Fixed Deposit — £300 0s. 0d.
Government Savings Bank — £200 0s. 0d.
Examined and found correct.
HARRY SNOWDEN,
FRED. C. HODEL, } Auditors.
WILLIAM HARRYS, Treasurer.
DAVID DIETRICHSON, Secretary.
Thursday Island,
13th January, 1900.
|
List of Governors. |
|
|
F. C. Hodel |
Kumakichi Ogawa |
|
Senior Sergeant M‘Creery |
Shichinosuki Ogawa |
|
George Pearson |
Katsuzo Oda |
|
R. Cohen |
Chuzaburo Okomoto |
|
W. T. Sullivan |
Genzaburo Otake |
|
D. C. Bromley |
Masukichi Suzuki |
|
G. H. Bennett |
Bunzo Sakamoto |
|
W. Harrys |
Chotaro Shibata |
|
P. J. Doyle |
Yoshinobu Tatsuya |
|
F. J. Beor |
Zentaro Teramoto |
|
Geo. Donald |
Kumaichi Azechi |
|
H. P. Beach |
Masataro Fukushima |
|
T. Satow |
Gohei Hayashi |
|
Geo. Smith |
Kiichi Hirayama |
|
Alb. Colless |
Genskichi Hayashi |
|
Abi. Murray |
Kosaku Higashi |
|
A. B. Macgill |
Naoziro Hara |
|
H. A. C. Douglas |
Genpachi Iguchi |
|
F. Norbury |
Iwakichi Kawabata |
|
W. Campbell |
Sanmatsu Kashi |
|
W. Adkins |
Kikujiro Kawakami |
|
R. Soopaya |
Otomatsu Kobori |
|
W. Davies |
Harumatsu Kawaoka |
|
A. Darr |
Kichimatsu K. Maeda |
|
G. H. Hodder |
Chogoro Morioka |
|
H. Snowdon |
Inosuke Matsumura |
|
Munro, Outridge, and Co. |
Shinpachi Minami |
|
A. Corran |
Sanzo Noharo |
|
Geo. Gummow |
Masataro Nakane |
|
J. L. Le Breton |
Tsunematsu Nishi |
|
Hon. J. Douglas |
Harumatsu Ozaki |
|
T. H. Willmett |
Hirai Ozaki |
|
Geo. Cockburn |
Bunkichi Osuka |
|
Thos. J. Farquhar |
Fuzinatsu Okaji |
|
Joseph Mitchell |
Ichimatsu Okano |
|
George Byres |
Chutaro Oya |
|
Jas. Young |
Goro Oda |
|
Mrs. T. Satow |
Unosuke Okamoto |
|
Mrs Dr. Sugiyama |
Tomijiro Okomoto |
|
Dr. Gensaku Sugiyama |
Yashuziro Sakai |
|
Isaburo Sumiyoshi |
Hiramatsu Shirano |
|
Rinzi Azechi |
Kurakichi Saka |
|
Sanzo Awa |
Kikujiro Kawakami |
|
Bungoro Deguchi |
Otomatsu Kobori |
|
Mrs. B. Deguchi |
Harumatsu Kawaoka |
|
Arataro Fukagawa |
Torres Straits Shipwright Co. |
|
Saisuke Nishimura |
Shimitaro Takeda |
|
Toranosuke Nakayama |
Saikichi Urita |
|
Tomizo Nishikado |
Masakichi Uyeno |
|
Ichimatsu Nishiyama |
Tozaburo Uchida |
|
Yaye Nakamura |
Yasotaro Yasukochi |
|
Denkichi Okazi |
Zenkichi Yoshida |
|
Sutematsu Yokohata |
