Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 15 January 1863, pages 483-84
DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL.
ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the governors of the Dorset County of this excellent institution was held in the Board Room of the Hospital, at Dorchester, last Thursday afternoon, but the attendance was not very larger, there being no special business for transaction. Henry Ker Seymer, Esq. M.P., was voted to the chair and there was also present Major-General Charles Michel, Rev. C. W. Bingham, W. C. Lambert, Esq., E. L. Kindersley, Esq., G. Warry, Esq., Rev. J. Fisher, Rev. J. R. Cree, Rev. T. W. Knipe, Rev. R. S. Easton, Rev. F. A. Baker, Rev. T. R. Maskew, J. F. Hodges, Esq., J. R. Tooze, Esq., &c.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM observed that before reading the report perhaps they would allow him to read a letter he had received from their patron, Lord Ilchester, expressing his sorrow at being unable to take his place today. His Lordship, after expressing the best wishes of the season, &c., said:-
“I am sorry to write again this year to excuse myself from attending the annual Hospital meeting this month at Dorchester. I am so fortunate in having been permitted to revise the country after my long illness in London, that I am really fearful of doing anything to hazard a relapse and the many attacks of bronchitis or congestion that I have had within these three years have taught me that the only chance of thorough recovery lies in prudence and staying at home. It is particularly vexatious to me to find that I can fill my brother’s place so imperfectly, having begun with the earnest intention and endeavour to be useful in the affairs of the Hospital, but one cannot choose one’s own line when a higher Power overrules it”.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM, as chairman of the committee then read the following report:-
“The committee present their 22nd report under a deep impression of the great goodness of God in having supplied the means, by which they had been enabled to meet the necessities of a very anxious and trying year.
“The pressure for admission during the greater part of it has been beyond all former experience; and, in the present state of the Hospital, with a building sufficiently large to accommodate more patients, it has been sometimes very hard to refuse their urgent applications, and to keep down the number to those limits which strict prudence might dictate. The weekly average of in-patients has, consequently, been raised to 51 5-13, being precisely four more than the weekly average of the former year, and nearly eight beyond that of 1860. That many of the cases treated have been highly critical may be inferred from the enormously increased consumption of ‘wine and spirits’, as well as certain other articles of the ‘domestic expenditure.’
“Though the annual subscriptions, the committee rejoice to say, have reached a higher amount than in any preceding year, and the other sources of ordinary income have not been below the average, still nothing could have saved us from serious financial difficulty but the most kind and timely interposition of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese in issuing a Pastoral Letter in aid of the Hospital. Considering the other loud calls made upon the charity of the country at this time the response which it received was far beyond the hopes and anticipations of the committee, and they feel that the best thanks of the Governors are due not only to his lordship and the clergy but to each individual contributor.
“The final result is that, after paying a balance of £59.18s. 6d. due to the treasurer, and funding the legacy of £100 from the late Mr Samuel Crane, of Godmanstone, there remains a balance in hand of £46 6s. 8d.
“It will become a serious question for the committee how far they may consider the past year as exceptional and what steps they can take in order to make the probably expenses more accurately coincide with the ordinary income.
“The handsome and appropriate chapel, erected by the sole munificence of Robert Williams, Esq., of Bridehead, was opened by the Lord Bishop on the 9th of April, and has greatly contributed to the comfort of all the inmates, whilst it may be regarded as the final completion of the building. The new ground, purchased to the south of the Hospital, has been enclosed by a substantial and uniform wall, and the soil will now be levelled and thrown into the garden.
“Early in the Year a melancholy circumstance occurred in the death, with the Hospital, of the house apothecary, Mr. Joseph Hocking, after a few days’ illness. His place has been supplied by the unanimous election of a highly recommended successor, Mr G. M. Evans, whose efficiency in every department of his office has hitherto given unqualified satisfaction to the committee.
“The introduction of water from the borough waterworks having greatly reduced the labours of the out-porter, an arrangement has been made for employing one porter only; but, not additional expense to the Hospital, a young man has been engaged, who, under Mr Evans’s able instruction, is qualifying himself for the office of dispenser.
“Once more the committee desires to express their cordial thanks to the medical officers for their kind and laborious services. They regret to state that Dr. Cowdell has been suffering recently from severe illness. Not least for the sake of the Hospital, but on every ground, they heartily trust that it may please God speedily to restore him.
“What may be called the household department has not been without its special trials this year, but they have been met by our excellent matron with her characteristic good sense and kindness, for which the institution has long been so deeply indebted to her.”
Mr. BINGHAM then said, he must be permitted to bring before them the Treasurer’s report, their treasurer being away, but he did not know that there was anything material to remark upon, except the item to which reference was made in the report, and which was the heavy item of the year, namely the expenditure for wine and spirits. In the preceding year, 1861, it amounted to £39 0s. 3d., and even that was an advance on the ordinary outlay, but this year it was £131 6s. or, more than £92 in advance of the previous twelve months. It was only to be accounted for, in the manner specified by the report, from the fact of there having been some extraordinarily severe cases, which required a mode of treatment somewhat different from that formerly adopted. If any one had told them in their younger days that they would lay out a fifteenth part of their expenditure on wine and spirits, the committee and medical officers would have been considered mad men. He had, however, had some conversation with a young student from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, who said that they consumed yearly no less than 40 pipes of wine in that establishment; therefore they could not be surprised at the quantity consumed in this establishment, which would seemed so great in their younger days. It was one of those items over which the committee had a very limited control. All they felt it necessary to do was to be certain that the quantity ordered was properly applied, and given to the proper patients, as they felt bound to allow it as long as the funds would permit, and it was thought necessary by the medical officers. The dividends on stock during the past year had amounted to £242 odd; the congregational collections £526 7s 2d., which the committee certainly thought was a most munificent contribution under the circumstances in which the country was situation; the donations had been about the average, £124; and the subscriptions £1,093 5s 6d., being more than £20 beyond those of any previous year. The total receipts had been £2,019 5s. 7d., besides the legacy of £100 from the late Mr. Crane, which had been funded. He did not know that it was necessary to go through the items of the expenditure, but he might state that the domestic expenditure was £1,468 in 1862, against £1,264 in 1861. The average number of patients, as they had already hear, had been 51 odd against 47 odd last year, the fractions in each case being the same, and this would give four more patients every day throughout the year, consequently there had been a considerable increase being about £200, though nearly £100 of this was due to the increased consumption of wine and spirits. For furniture and repairs the item was greater than last year, being £92 against £37; and the dispensary was £249 against £226. The total expenditure had been £1,870, which, with a few other small items, the investment of £100 in Three Per Cents., a balance of £60 paid to the treasurer, and £46 odd in hand, made a total of £2119. He did not know that he had any further remark to make upon the statement of accounts, but he would move that the report be received and adopted and printed, under the directions of the committee.
The CHAIRMAN asked if any gentleman wished to make any remark upon the report?
Mr HODGES said he wished to offer an explanation, which would satisfy them as to the increase in the domestic expenditure, and that there had been no increase in the weekly cost of maintenance. The average weekly cost of maintenance in 1860 was 14s., in 1861 it was 13s. 8d., and in the past year it was 13s. 5d. The average number of patients in the house had increased by four, and according to the above rate of maintenance this would account for about £140.
Mr. LAMBERT seconded the adoption of the report, which was carried unanimously.
The REV. J. FISHER then proposed that the following gentlemen be on the committee for the ensuing year – The Rev. F. A. Baker, Rev. T. W. Knipe, Rev. G. L. Nash, Rev. H. B. Williams, Rev. E. Ludlow, Rev. T. A. Falkner, E. L. Kindersley Esq., G. Warry, Esq., Mr. James Crane, Mr. Levi Groves, Mr. J. Ransford and Mr D. Symonds.
The Rev. J. R. CREE seconded this proposition.
GENERAL MICHEL though it would be advisable to have some gentlemen on the committee who lived at a distance, so that they might attend if they were in the town.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM explained that this was met by all the vice-patrons being members of the committee, and they could attend if they thought fit.
The motion was then unanimously adopted.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM observed that he was sorry to say that one of their auditors, Mr. Coombs, had resigned his office. He was a thorough man of business and well known in the county, and they were sorry to lose his services. Mr. Coombs assured him that the reason for resigning was the increasing difficulty he felt in performing the duties. Their accounts required auditing at the beginning of each year, which was a particularly busy time with Mr. Coombs, and he found it impossible to make arrangements for performing his duties. (In reply to a question, Mr. Bingham said the committee audited the accounts every quarter.) While expressing thanks to Mr. Coombs for his past service, it became necessary to look out for a substitute. There was a gentleman in town, Mr. Mason, who had proved himself to be a friend to the Hospital in a substantial manner, and having expressed his readiness to accept the office, he begged to propose that Mr Alfred Samuel Mason be appointed auditor in the room of Mr. Coombs.
Mr HODGES seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM said that as chairman of the committee the business had fallen heavily upon his shoulders on the present occasion. He had now to propose an alteration in the eleventh rule, which termed their residential medical officer “house apothecary”. It had been long know to the committee that the gentlemen who had filled that office from time to time somewhat shrunk from using that term and preferred being called “house surgeon”. One of the qualifications of the house apothecary was that he must be a member of the College of Surgeons of London, Edinburgh, or Dublin; and he did not see any particular reason why they should stick to the term, it was disagreeable to the gentleman who held the office. Now also that they had added to their staff a dispenser, he thought they might in future term the house apothecary, house surgeon. He had spoken to Mr. Tudor on the subject, and he thought the term rather anomalous, and that it detracted from the character of the hospital. He therefore proposed that the 11th rule, and others were it was requisite, should be altered as he had suggested. A few years ago there was an idea that apothecary was a higher term than surgeon, but that did not seem to be the case now. For his own part, he had thought that the two terms were something like attorney and solicitor, and he did not care whether they called him a rector or a vicar, so long as he had the tithes. (Laughter.) Still he did not see why they should call a spade a spade, and a surgeon a surgeon.
General MICHEL seconded the proposition, which was unanimously agreed to.
Mr KINDERSELEY proposed a vote of thanks to the medical officers of the institution for their services during the past year. He observed that, the result of the year would show how unremitting their attention had been to the Hospital, and the skill they had exhibited was such as to entitle them to the best thanks of the meeting.
Mr LAMBERT seconded this motion, which was also carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN asked any gentleman had any proposal to make in reference to any alteration in the rules or for the benefit of the Hospital.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM said they would perhaps allow him to rise once more. First of all he would ask this meeting whether they would allow him to convey to their patron, Lord Ilchester, their sorrow that he was not able to be present this day, and their anxious wish that it might please God to restore his health, so as to enable him once more to come amongst them. The meeting he was sure would carry that with acclamation. (Hear, hear.) He would also propose their best thanks to Mr Seymer for taking the chair this day; and he was sure they were most glad to see him amongst them, and he hoped he would carry out what General Michel considered the duty of a distant committeeman, by attending oftener in his capacity of vice-patron.
The CHAIRMAN said he felt that he had for many years an unworthy office bearer in connection with this institution; but the fact was that he resided at a considerable distance from the Hospital, though the railway had now brought him a little nearer, and he hoped next year that the line would afford still further facilities for visiting this part of the country. (Hear, hear.) He was very glad Mr Bingham had directed their attention to the item for wine and spirits. Some objected, not only to the general use of wine and spirits, but also to their use in hospitals, but the fact was that their use had lately largely increased in these institutions. He was informed by medical men that of late years diseases had assumed a low type, and instead of course to bleeding, &c., as in former days, they adopted quite a contrary mode of treatment. With regard to the statement of the accounts of the Hospital, this should not lead them to relax in their efforts to promote its efficiency, and to obtain new subscribers; and he would take this opportunity of saying that he hoped, whatever took place with reference to other parts of the county, that nothing would interfere with the prosperity of this Hospital. (Hear, hear). He begged to thank them for the kind manner in which they had accepted his services in the chair. (Applause.)
The Rev. R. S. EATON thought that before they separated they should pass a vote of thanks to the chairman of the committee and the committee, upon whose exertions the welfare of the Hospital so much depended. (Hear, hear.)
This proposition having been unanimously adopted, the proceedings terminated.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 16 April 1863, page 20
DEATHS.
CURME. – April 11, at the Dorset County Hospital, Mr. John CURME, lime-burner, of Cerne Abbas, aged 50, after an illness of a few days only.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 24 December 1863, page 20
DEATHS.
TAYLOR. – Dec 20, at the Dorset County Hospital, Mr. John TAYLOR, jun., assistant overseer of the parish of Whitchurch Canonicorum, aged 25, deeply regretted by a large circle of relatives and friends.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 14 January 1864, page 484
DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL.
GENERAL ANNUAL MEETING.
The general annual meeting of the governors of this excellent institution was held in the Board Room of the Hospital at Dorchester last Thursday afternoon, there being present J. Floyer Esq., H. N. Middleton, Esq., the Ven. Archdeacon Sanctuary, E. L. Kindersley, Esq., Rev. C. W. Bingham, Rev. J. Fisher, Rev. Reginald Smith, Rev. Monie, G. Warry, Esq., C. W. Digby, Esq., Rev. E. Ludlow, Rev. T. W. Knipe, Rev. F. A. Baker, Rev. G. L. Nash, Rev. T. A. Falkner, Rev. James Cree, Rev. M. J. Green, J. F. Hodges, Esq., J. R. Tooze, Esq., Mr Levi Groves, &c. Before commencing proceedings the Rev. C. W. Bingham, chairman of the committee, announced that the Hon. Henry Walpole, who has ceased to live in the county, had sent a donation of £25, for which it would be well for the committee specially to express their thanks. On the proposition of the same gentleman, Mr. Floyer, one of the vice-patrons, was requested to take the chair, when the Rev. Mr. Bingham read the following report:-
“Never, during the 23 years that have elapsed since the establishment of the hospital, have more manifest tokens been exhibited of the general appreciation of its benefits by all classes in the county. The almost uniform course of prosperity and progress which it had been permitted to run makes it hard for the committee to vary the expressions of their annual statement. Still there can be no hesitation on their part rendering thanks to a good and gracious God for the continuance of His favour, and in attributing to Him, to whom alone it is due, all the glory and all the praise. The constant efforts of the committee to keep the admissions within proper bounds have only been so far successful as to reduce the weekly average of in-patients from 51 5-13ths to 50 11-13ths. Their total number, nevertheless, has exceeded that of any previous year by more than 60; and the number of out-patients also has been largely in advance, being more than 100 beyond that of 1862, and, strange to say, more than 200 beyond that of either 1860 or 1861. Two legacies have been received, viz., £40 from Mrs. Elizabeth Ashworth, a highly respectable widow, in comparatively humble life, at Sydling St. Nicholas; and £450 from an old and most generous benefactor to the hospital, Rev. George Raymond, rector at Symondsbury. These sums, according to the usual practice with respect to legacies, were funded immediately on their receipt; although certain payments made in the course of the year might fairly have intercepted them, and have been charged upon the capital of the institution, viz., £119 for the building of the garden wall, and £115 10s. 2d. for connecting the hospital, with the main drainage of the borough. This, however, has been rendered altogether unnecessary by the liberal amount both of the donations and congregational collections. Amongst the former will be found £40 from the Rev. C. Fox. £100 from Mrs. Charles Hutchings (of Bath), and the truly munificent and unsolicited contribution of £550 from the Marquess of Westminster. The latter, too – many of them being thank offerings for the late abundant harvest – have reached an amount far above their average, and much exceeding those of any previous year, except when they have been made in compliance with a pastoral letter from the Lord Bishop. The heartiest thanks of the governors are due both to those clergy and their people who have combined to make this most welcome and seasonable addition to the resources of the charity. The general result is that, after discharging all liabilities and retaining a balance in the treasurer’s hands of£29 1s. 4d., a further sum of £400 has been funded, amounting altogether to £800, and raising the funded property of the institution to £9,097 8s. 11d. New Three per Cents. Very few circumstances have occurred in the proceedings of the year which demanded any special observation. It has been deemed advisable to avail ourselves of the recent improvements in the principles of nursing, introduced under the auspices of the eminently practical and benevolent Miss Nightingale. A nurse, highly recommended by the council of the Nightingale Fund, in connection with St Thomas’s Hospital, has been procured, and her whole demeanour hitherto has fully justified the cost of the arrangement. The committee rejoice at the restoration of Dr. Cowdell’s Health, and beg anew to express their gratitude both to him and the other medical officers for their kind and unremitting honorary services. The house surgeon has continued to devote himself most assiduously and efficiently to the performance of his duties; and no little credit must be accorded to him for his cheerfulness and ability with which he discharged them, when necessarily much increased during the illness, and absence of the physician. Of the excellent matron’s value in all respects it has become almost superfluous to speak. Her name has long been honoured in those many cottage homes whose inmates knew from experience the blessings administered by the Dorset County Hospital.”
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM observed that before proceeding to make a few remarks upon the report, it would perhaps be well if he referred to the treasurer’s statement more in extenso. At the beginning of the year was a balance in hand of £46 6s.8d.; and the dividends on £9,097 8s. 11d. in the New Three per Cents. Amount to £245 8s. 5d. The congregational collections had amounted to £357 10s. 5d. Now he found that by referring back to 1861, the income from this source was £240, and even that was in advance of any preceding year, except what they called their “great years,” when the Bishop had given them a pastoral letter, so that they had advanced from £240, which was the utmost attained before, to £357 10s. 5d. The subscriptions during the past year had been the same as the preceding, within a few shillings, £1,094 0s. 6d. The donations had been £664 6s., including those already noticed. These were the main receipts from what was called ordinary income, which on the whole had amounted to £2,398 1s. 10d., besides £490 legacies, which, with the balance in hand at the commencement of the year, made a grand total of £2,2934 8s. 6d. He had scarcely occasion to go through all the items for outgoings. Everyone who went through them and compared them with the preceding year, taking into account the price of provisions, would find that nothing could be more accurately managed than the whole domestic expenditure of the institution. They owed this, in a great measure, to their excellent matron, and not a little to their good clerk, Mr. Brown, who looked pretty sharply after them all. If they went into the items as he had done, they would find, given the less number of patients and the price of provisions, that nothing could afford a more satisfactory notion of the manner in which these things balanced themselves. There was one item to which he could not help calling attention, and they would recollect that he did so last year, when he stated that the committee had no control over the expenditure in wines and spirits. They were bound to see, as far as their eyes would carry them, that what wines and spirits were ordered by the medical officers should be properly administered, and that there was no waste; but it would be impossible for the committee to say that the medical officers should not order such things for patients. In 1862 the sum expended on this item was £131 6s.; but he was happy to say it was no reduced to £51 19s. (Hear, hear). He could not accept that temperance sort of a cheer from Mr Moule (laughter), because he believed that £130 would have been expended again if the patients had required it. There was a certain class of patients, either in a low condition or sinking under operations, who, according to modern practice, it was considered absolutely necessary to sustain by stimulants of some sort or another; and if they had had the same number of these cases as last year, he believed the expenditure in wine and spirits would have been just as great. After noticing one or two items to show the economy which had been exercised in the medical department, the rev. gentleman stated that the ordinary expenditure had amounted to about £1,770, against £1,870 last year, showing a decrease of £100. The £890 invested and one or two items that did not come into ordinary expenditure would balance the total income, leaving the sum of £29 1s. 4d. in hand. Now with regard to the report, the first thing he would notice was the reduction of the weekly average. They felt last year that they were going too far, and that it was necessary to keep the admissions within due bounds, but as already stated, the reduction only amounted to not quite an average of 1 per cent. He was afraid they could not go any lower, and that if the hospital was to be generally useful they must keep up their average number to about 50 patients, which he thought was pretty nearly the demand made upon the institution. The necessity of keeping down the average to this might perhaps sometimes make them hurry some patients through the hospital; but this might not be a bad thing as saving them from certain chronic cases that might be treated just as well elsewhere. But as we stated in the report, it was a remarkable circumstance that although the average had been somewhat less, yet they had more than 60 patients above any preceding year. The in-patients had been 466 as against 389 last year – a very large increase. One year, 1957, they had 404, which was the highest they had ever had previous this, so that 62 more patients had received the full benefits of the institution than in any previous year, and 77 more than that last year. Once more, referring got the number of out-patients they had been raised from 414 to 515 this year, against 306 in 1860, and 305 in 1861. He was talking just now upon this subject to one of their hon. Medical officers, Mr. Tudor, and he said he was bound to stat his firm belief that this increase in the number of out-patients was largely due to the manner they were received and treated by the house surgeon. (Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Bingham) had no hesitation in stating that this was his belief. Out-patients had doubtless sometimes before been frightened away by the manner in which they were received.
The Rev. M. J. GREEN said everybody in his parish spoke very satisfactorily of the present house surgeon (Mr. Evans).
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM continued to observe that the congregational collections were a subject upon which the committee could dilate for some time, so thankful did they feel for the increased income that had been derived from this source. He believed that there was nothing to which poor people would more willingly given than to the hospital, because they felt the great benefit it was to have such an establishment. He did not see why every clergyman could not make a collection. They would be able to make provision for all the demand upon them for the sick poor if they could such a continual flow of congregational collections as this year. He had had before stated that they had now funded £9,097, but he might say that there was also a sum of about £900 almost due to them – £500 from the late Mr. Manfield, and 500 from the late Mr. Fox, of Beaminster, so that they might also say their funded property had reached £10,000. This was a subject of congratulation, but in one sense he could hardly look with rejoining up it, because their excellent matron always said she should die happy if she could see £10,000 funded, but he hoped she would live long not only to see this, but also to see it reach £20,000. Truly did the report say that all classes in the county seemed to be appreciating the institution more than ever. They had had no nobleman in the county giving very large contributions unsolicited, their subscriptions had been dept up to the full amount, and they had had congregation collections in increased proportion any preceding ordinary year, therefore he most cordially proposed that the report of the past year be received, adopted, and printed under the direction of the committee.
Mr MIDDLETON briefly seconded this proposition.
The CHAIRMAN, in putting the motion, said they must all feel that the report was a most satisfactory one – the most satisfactory one he had ever heard read in that room. He chairman of the committee had alluded to their endeavours to keep the number of patients within bounds and it had been mooted whether there might not be some necessity for a little endeavour to limit them to the present admissions; but he thought that the governors present, looking at the financial statement, would say that there was no necessity for any endeavour to limit the numbers further than to the extent to which patients had been assisted during the past year. What confirmed them in the course they had pursued was the account of income and expenditure. The chairman of that committee had put it before them very fully, and perhaps he could not improve much upon it, but he might venture to put it in a different point of view. He had always looked with a little jealousy to donations being reckoned into annual income. Now looking at this balance sheet he did not think there was anything to complain of on this ground. The donations had amounted to £664 and the legacies to £490, which together made something like £1,100. Then on the other side, if they looked at the expenditure for ordinary purposes, and then struck a balance with the total, they would find that the ordinary expenditure fell short of the total expenditure by at least £1,100, so that the ordinary expenditure had not gone beyond the income of the year, leaving out donations and requests. That was a most satisfactory state of things, and he did not know whether it was a state of things that they had been able to report to the governors on former occasions. The only point therefore that they had to look to with any anxiety was the congregational collections, to which allusion had been made. If these could be maintained to the extent stated in the sheet before them, then the position of the hospital was a sound one, and one to which they could look forward with confidence for a considerable number of years, and the governors would not think of impression upon the committee any reduction in the number of patients, which their chairman had rightly stated was about the requirements of the county. The great point which he wished to arrive at was to keep up to the requirements of the county, and he thought the statement of accounts showed that they would be able to meet this requirement. The chairman, in conclusion, put the motion for the adoption of the report to the meeting, and it was carried unanimously.
The Rev. M. J. GREEN said it was not a matter that affected him, because the collections from his parish generally amount to the requisite sum, but he thought it would be a good thing for smaller parishes if a collection of two guineas instead of two and a half that was double the common subscription, should entitle them to the privileges of subscribers. He proposed an alteration in the rule to this effect.
The CHAIRMAN read the rule, from which it appeared that at present a parochial collection of £2 12s. 6d. entitled the parish to recommend one in-patient and three out-patients. It was now proposed to substitute two guineas instead of two and a half.
The Rev. T. W. KNIPE seconded the motion.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM observed that as the voice of the committee he saw no objection, and he had once or twice moved the committee to reduce the amount. Some persons had remonstrated with him for keeping up any distinction between annual subscriptions and congregational collections. There was however, some different. An annual subscription was supposed to be a regular payment, and a subscription of one guinea gave the same privilege as a donation of £25, though perhaps the distinction was too wide; but certainly congregational collections, as they had them from any parishes, rather partook of a donation than an annual subscription. If parishes would say they would regularly subscribe a certain amount every year, they would have the same privileges as annual subscribers.
Mr. KINDERSLEY remarked that if a person gave a guinea subscription for one year he would have the same privilege.
Archdeacon SANCTUARY said he wished to do everything they possibly could to encourage these parochial collections, and he had hoped to see them put upon a satisfactory basis. He now sent about five guineas a year, which came from his people. He generally wanted about five orders, and had little or no difficulty in getting them, but he would rather they came as a right.
Mr. HODGES said a gentleman a short time since mentioned to him the point that a donation of £25 and a guinea subscription gave the right to one vote, and he thought the £25 donation was not in proportion to the privilege of the annual subscription. Mr Hodges also observed that when they considered that every patient cost about 12s a week it would be apparent that if every subscriber of a guinea exercised the privilege accorded the hospital could not exist, the payment of one guinea was so disproportionate to the expense.
The CHAIRMAN said the reason why the privilege to donors was fixed at £25 was in referent to the original building fund. There was a large sum obtained by donations for the building of the hospital, and it was hardly thought right to refuse those who had so contributed the privileges accorded to those who subscribed. Ten guineas had been named as the amount, but it was ultimately fixed at twenty-five.
The motion of the Rev. M. Green was then put to the meeting and carried.
On the proposition of the Rev. E. LUDLOW, seconded by the Rev. REGINALD SMITH, the following gentleman were elected on the committee for the ensuing year:- Revds. T. A. Falkner, T. W. Knipe, G. L. Nash, H. B. Williams, . Headland and V. D. Vyvyan, Messrs. James Crane, J. Ransford, D. Symonds, G. Warry, G. Mayo, and R. Genge.
The cordial thanks of the meeting were, on the motion of the Rev. C. W. BINGHAM, seconded by Mr. MIDDLETON, accorded to the medical officers for their kind labours during the past year.
The CHAIRMAN said he should be very glad to move the thanks of the meeting to the committee of management. Their services had been peculiarly successful in all points, and he thought they had rendered a very good account of their stewardship. He therefore proposed especial thanks to the chairman of the committee, as well as to the vice-chairman and the committee, for their services during the past year.
The Rev. REGINALD SMITH seconded the proposition and it was carried mem. dis.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM said they could not separate without thanking Mr. Floyer for so kindly taking the chair. He was always ready to serve them, and always served them well.
The CHAIRMAN having briefly expressed his acknowledgements, the proceedings terminated.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 30 June 1864, page 4
CERNE ABBAS. SURGICAL OPERATION. – On Monday a poor fellow named KINGDON, in the employ of Mr. J. FOOKS, of Cerne, who had been for some time under treatment at the Dorchester Hospital, and discharged from there incurable, had his left thigh amputated by Dr. D . P. GLOVER of this place, assisted by Mr. GOOD, of Dorchester, and three other surgeons. The man, we understand, had been pressed whilst in the hospital to undergo the operation there, but the fact was that the poor man had a strong wish that the operation should be performed at his own home. We believe that such an operation has not been performed in Cerne for a great number of years. The man is doing well, and there is at present every prospect of ultimate recovery.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 7 July 1864, page 14
Surgical Operation at Cerne.
I must ask permission to correct two inaccuracies contained in a paragraph of your paper of last week, under the head of Cerne Abbas. The man KINGDON, whose thigh was amputated by Mr. Glover, was not discharged from the Hospital as incurable, but left in April last at his own request, and in opposition to the advice of the medical officers; and further, during his stay in this institution no operation was at any time proposed to him.
GEORGE W. EVANS, House Surgeon, Dorset County Hospital.
July 4, 1864.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 12 January 1865, pages 483-84
DORSET COUNTY HOSPITAL.
ANNUAL MEETING.
The annual meeting of the governors of this institution was held at the Hospital, Dorchester on Thursday afternoon last, there being present the Rev. H. B. Williams, Rev. C. W. Bingham, Rev, Reginald Smith, Rev. J. Fisher, Rev. T. W. Knipe, Rev. G. L. Nash, Rev. T. R. Maskew, Rev. V. D. Vyvyan, Rev. E. Ludlow, Rev. F. A. Baker, Rev. M. J. Green, G. Warry, Esq., Dr. Cowdell, G. Mayo, Esq., J. F. Hodges, Esq., J. R. Tooze Esq., &c. In the absence of the President, the Rev. H. B. Williams was voted to the Chair.
The Rev. Mr. Bingham as chairman of the committee, submitted the following report:-
“The committee, in presenting their 24th annual report, have fresh and ever-increasing occasion to record their gratitude to Almighty God for the blessing which still continues to rest upon the Hospital.
“If the past year has been marked by an unusually large expenditure, it has also been distinguished by unusually large resources; and the benefits extended to the sick poor have been also largely in excess of former years. It is true that the actual number of in-patients treated has fallen a trifle short of the number treated last year being 451 against 466; but the daily average has risen from 50 11-13ths to 55 1-13th, that is to say, something more than 4 per diem, involving an increased cost of maintenance of at least £100.
“During a part of the year the pressure for admission has been very great, and nothing but the manifest generosity which was sustaining the funds would have justified the committee in going so far as they have done beyond their former limits; nor have they been disappointed in their hope that the special income of the year would supply the requisite means of meeting this exceptional expenditure.
“The donations have far exceeded their average amount, including the following large sums, viz.:- £100 from that munificent benefactress to this and many other objects of benevolence, the late Mrs. Wm. Jennings, of Evershot, £100 from John Hayne, Esq., of Fordington and additional contributions of £20 from Rev. T. W. Birch, and £50 from the Rev. C. J. Glyn.
“The congregational collections, which were again, in many cases, thank-offerings for the abundant harvest, amount to upwards of £391, and are still in advance of the previous year, when, as was then stated, ‘they much exceeded those of any former year, except when made in compliance with a pastoral letter from the Lord Bishop.’
“The committee have always felt this to be a most gratifying course of revenue, as indicative of a wide-spread appreciation of the charity: nor can they fail to express their warmest thankfulness both to the clergy and the congregations, who have combined to give so welcome and satisfactory response to their appeal.
“The sum of £1,150 has been funded, comprising legacies, – £500 from the late Edward Fox, Esq., of Beaminster, and £500 from the late William Manfield, Esq., of Dorchester, together with a further sum of £150, thus raising the stock to £10,392 1s. 7d., whilst, after discharging all the liabilities of a very costly year, there remains a balance in the treasurer’s hands of £77 7s 2d.
“The out-patients have been 534 against 515 in 1863.
“The convalescent wards in the Bankes’ Wing have been embellished by two valuable oil-paintings, compositions from ancient masters, the kind present of Mr Floyer: and the welcome gift of a large number of Scripture-prints, texts & c., has been received from the Earl of Eldon.
“The honorary medical officers have laid the institution under fresh obligations by their able and unremitting labours during another year.
“Within the last few months the committee, carrying out their recommendation, have laid the foundation of a medical library. Special contributions were solicited for this object, and liberally given, so that already, partly by purchase and partly by presentation, a tolerably complete, though small, collection of books has been made, containing many works of great utility, and some of large cost, and consequently not like to be found in many private medical libraries. The committee have thought it well to aid this effort by a subscription of £10, and cannot refrain from expressing their confident hope that this very desirable adjunct to the Hospital will be freely taken advantage of by many of the medical men of the county, to any and all of whom it will be accessible on the presentation of their cards, whilst it can scarcely ail to be of great value to the medical staff, and especially to any future resident medical officers, and thus, in different ways, benefit will accrue from it to those classes for whose special advantage the Hospital was instituted.
“Side by side with the Medical Library, another addition has been made to what may be called the educational department of the Hospital, in the shape of a Pathological Museum, which will likewise be open to the medical men of the county. It was commenced by the presentation, by the sons of the late Mr. Salter, of Poole, of a very interesting collection of specimens prepared by him, and to form here, the committee trust, a lasting memorial of the industrious and enlightened zeal with which, notwithstanding the claims of a large practice, he, for so many years, presented his profession.
“The house surgeon, whose resignation the committee have reluctantly accepted this day, has continued to devote himself to his duties with persevering ardour and intelligence. He will have completed the term of his three years engagement in March, and the committee heartily wish him the professional success which both his skill and uniform propriety of conduct here assure them he will abundantly deserve.
“The matron too, has been permitted to exercise the same vigilant, yet kind superintendence over all under her charge, which has so long won for her the respect and attachment of all connected with the Hospital.”
Mr. BINGHAM, after giving some further information respecting the income and expenditure of the institution, proposed that the report be adopted and printed, and the resolution was unanimously agreed to.
The Rev. REGINALD SMITH proposed that the following gentlemen be appointed the committee for the present year:- Revs. T. A. Falkner, M. J. Green, E. Headland, T. W. Knipe, V. D. Vyvyan, and H. B. Williams, Messrs. R. H. Genge, H. Hawkins, R. Hayne, T. Homer, G. Mayo and G. Warry.
The Rev. T. R. MASKEW seconded this motion, and it was carried nem. Con.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM then proposed the cordial thanks of the governor to the honorary medical officers for the kind and able manner in which they had performed their duties during the past year. Those gentleman had this year laid the governors under special obligation by suggestion they had made to found a medical library in connection with the hospital. The committee had been unanimous in their view as to the advantages likely to accrue to the institution by the adoption of the suggestion; and they must feel gratified that in so short a period they had received such a cordial response upon the subject. There had been one gift from “A Friend,” by Dr. Cowdell, of £100 and £10 each from the Earl of Ilchester, G. D. Wingfield DigbyEsq., R. Williams Esq., Dr. Bissett Hawkins, and the Rev. Carr J. Glyn, besides smaller donations and subscriptions, altogether amounting he thought to about £160.
Dr. COWEDELL: There is £163 in donations.
Mr. BINGHAM continued to observe that the number of books already on the shelves was between 300 and 400. Their motto in founding the hospital was to do the greatest possible good to the greatest possible number; and upon this principle, when the question arose whether the library should be thrown open to the public or its use confined to those within these walls, they came to the conclusion that it should be opened to any medical men who came and gave proof that they were what they represented themselves to be.
The Rev. J. FISHER seconded the vote of thanks to the honorary medical officers, and it was agreed to unanimously.
The Rev J. FISHER again rose, and said a resolution had been put into this hands, which he had the greatest pleasure in proposing, as it met with his sympathy in every way. It was, “That a fund be provided for two pensions of £10 each for disabled nurses who had been in the service of the hospital ten years, and had reached the age of 60.”
Dr. COWDELL said he had much pleasure in seconding this resolution. In the fifteen hears he had been connected with this hospital they had twice had nurses break down in their service. They had one at present who had been with them more than thirteen years, and she was quite without any provision for the future, if they cast her off. Now they would all be ready to acknowledge that a great number of the poor patients coming here, but for this asylum, would have to find one in the union workhouse; and it would no boast on their part if they took it for granted that these poor people were infinitely happier here than there. He therefore asked whether it would be humane – putting it on no higher ground than that of humanity – that those who were mainly instrumental in making others more comfortable here than in the unions, should be themselves driven to the union? (Hear, hear.)
A little conversation took place, in which opinions were expressed that they would scarcely be able to guarantee pensions from the uncertain, source of a special fund, that the committee should have the power of withholding the grant if the pensioner did not maintain a good character, and that it would be well to withdraw the limitation as to age and length of service, seeing that a case might arise out of these condition which would equally deserve assistance. Ultimately the motion was altered as follows:- “That the committee be empowered to appropriate annually a sum of not exceeding £20 to deserving nurses, disabled by age or infirmity in the service of the hospital.”
Dr. COWEDELL said he had hoped some one would suggest that the limitation as to age should be withdrawn.
The Rev J. FISHER adopted the amended resolution and it was carried nem. con.
On the motion of Rev. C. W. BINGHAM, seconded by Mr. MAYO, a vote of thanks was passed to the Rev. C. W. Bingham, the chairman of the committee, and to that body.
The Rev. C. W. BINGHAM in returning thanks, said when he was first appointed to his present office, they had half the number of patients and just about one-third the income they had now.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman of the day concluding the proceedings.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 19 September 1867, page 3
DEATH OF THE HOUSE-SURGEON OF THE HOSPITAL.-It is with unfeigned sorrow that we have this week to record the death of Mr. William James BENNETT, son of our respected townsman, Mr. F BENNETT, of High West-street, which occurred at Dorset County Hospital on Sunday evening. It will be remembered that only in April last the office of house-surgeon to this invaluable charity was rendered vacant by the sudden and melancholy death of Mr. Alfred ENSOR ; and now that another of our young and talented fellow townsmen has been taken so speedily from amongst us, the untimely occurrences has cast a deep gloom over the entire town. But it would appear that for some time past he had been afflicted with a tubercular disease which had affected his lungs, and which had latterly implicated the brain, and he succumbed to the fatal malady about a quarter past eleven o’clock on Sunday evening, in the presence of his sorrowing parents and friends. Although scarcely 22 years of age, we understand that his progress in the profession had been especially successful and promising. Having served his probation in this town with Dr. ALDRIDGE, he afterwards went through Guy’s Hospital, when he soon succeeded in obtaining his diploma, and was admitted to the full membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. In the early part of May last he passed his last examination in the science and practice of medicine at Apothecaries’ Hall, and received his certificate to practise, and in the following week he was selected by the governors of the Dorset County Hospital as the successor to Mr. ENSOR. We understand that Mr. BENNETT was the first surgeon who had passed his degrees at so early an age, and the manner in which he has discharged his duties since at the hospital gave promise of a most distinguished future in his profession he evinced the greatest skill, and by his unremitting and careful attention to his arduous duties he won alike the esteem and affection of all by whom he was surrounded. Although his career in Dorchester has thus suddenly been cut off, yet we believe that during his short residence at the hospital he won very many friends, and that his name will long live to be a source of comfort and consolation to his bereaved and sorrowing parents, after the lull of the first poignancy of grief.
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Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 26 September 1867, page 3
IN consequence of the death of Mr. BENNETT, house-surgeon of the Dorset County Hospital, mentioned in our last, that office is now vacant, and Mr. J. R. Algernon TAYLOR, who is home for the vacation from the King’s College Hospital in London, has undertaken the temporary care of the patients pending such vacancy.
The History of Dorset County Hospital 