REPORT OF THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL AND ASYLUM. FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL, Washington, D. C., July 20, 1882. SIR: I have the honor to submit the annual report of this hospital for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1882. That some The year just closed has been an unusually busy one. idea of the growth of the institution may be formed, I will state that the monthly average of admissions of patients has been more than double what it was five years ago. The following table will show the number admitted and treated each year for the past five years. On July 1, 1877, there were 213 patients remaining in the hospital. Five hundred and nineteen were admitted during the year, making a total of 732 treated. On July 1, 1878, 231 remained in hospital; admitted, 642. Total treated, 873. On July 1, 1879, 217 remained in hospital; admitted, 817. Total treated, 1,034. On July 1, 1880, 223 remained in hospital; admitted, 872. Total treated, 1,095. On July 1, 1881, 225 remained in hospital; admitted, 1,102. Total treated, 1,327. The average admissions per month during the past year have been 91%. Of the 1,102 admitted, 345 were white and 757 colored. The accompanying tables will show the class of diseases treated. I invite attention to the large number of cases of Bright's disease. I am unprepared to say whether the disease is on the increase or the better methods of diagnosis are such as to enable it to be easily recognized. The record also shows a large percentage of phthisical cases, especially among the colored patients. I attribute this to the fact that these people are ignorant of the ordinary laws governing health, and are subjected to much physical and moral depression. The febrile cases have also been quite numerous, to which attention is called. During the year quite a number of surgical operations have been performed, among which may be mentioned the amputation of two thighs, two legs, one arm, and the setting of twenty fractures. The management congratulates itself upon the uniform success that has attended all of these operations. The hospital has at present 300 beds. The capacity can be increased when desired to 400 by utilizing the lecture-rooms connected with the building. During the year a telephone has been put up, which is of great value in all cases of emergency. A large percentage of the patients are admitted upon the recommendation of the police authorities. They are, however, subject to a medical examination, and, if proper subjects, a report of the admission is forwarded to the department for approval. Though the appropriation for the past year was small, admission of any one deserving hospital treatment has never been denied. Patients have been admitted at all hours of the day and night. The mortality has been large, but this can readily be explained from the fact that many of the patients have only come to the hospital when their cases were hopeless. Quite a number have died in a few hours after admission. In this community there is a prejudice in the minds of the people to hospitals, and they defer going to them until they have exhausted all means of support at home. In my judgment there should be a board of visitors appointed who should feel at liberty to visit the institution at all times. Such a board would assist materially, and give the public some conception of the size and facilities the hospital offers, which seem to be poorly understood. Though established twenty years ago, and general in every sense, admitting, as it does, all classes of citizens, and has a capacity of 300 beds, little seems to be known of it outside of those who are compelled to seek a free hospital. With this class the institution is popular. The management is constrained to express a regret that the profession of the District have manifested such a little interest in it. Many pensioners who come to the capital have availed themselves of the benefits offered. Their admission is generally upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Pensions. Religious services are held three times a week in the chapel, on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings and evenings. The patients are also visited daily at the bedside by the chaplains, who write letters, and perform such other services as may be required of them. These duties are discharged by two theological students. Catholic and other patients are permitted to select their own clergy, who are admitted at all times. During the year, 2,314 out-door patients have been treated in the dispensary which is attached. A report of these cases will be found in the accompanying table. The sanitary condition has been excellent, the decorum of the patients and attendants all that could be desired. Owing to the poverty of very many of those admitted, clothing has been issued to them. I would recommend that the government purchase the hospital buildings and grounds. As the institution has become permanent, it is manifestly proper that the property should belong to the government. Very respectfully, C. B. PURVIS, M. D, Surgeon-in-Chief. Hon. H. M. TELLER, Secretary of the Interior. |