USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1939 > Part 12
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The Town of Attleboro at a special meeting held May 14, 1912, accepted the offer of the Attleborough Hospital, and in due time placed the property in question in trust with said corporation.
The work of reconstruction and new building was commenced in July, 1912, and on April 14, 1913, after an expenditure of something over $30,000, the hospital was opened.
Again in July, 1914, another addition was made, known as the Nurses' Home, with provisions also for maternity cases, thus making 30 beds as the total capacity of the hospital, being largely possible because of a gift of $10,000 from the late Fannie M. Tappan. The total cost of this addition was approximately $18,000, and the balance was provided from income from trust accounts and individual gifts.
In 1922 Joseph L. Sweet, President of the Attleborough Hospital since its beginning, provided for the erection of a $125,000 fireproof addition to be known as the Florence Hayward Sweet Maternity Building, and adding 21 beds to the capacity of the hospital. This addition was opened June 4, 1923, and the gift included a new plant and boiler house situated at the rear of the lot back of the present Nurses' Home, providing the steam and heating and other needs of the whole hospital.
With the realization that its facilities were being taxed to the limit and the needs of a substantial addition pressing, the Board of Managers, in the fall of 1924, voted to undertake a campaign for additional funds. With an enthusiasm on the part of the subscribers and workers unparalleled in the history of our com- munity, this campaign was brought to a successful conclusion on February 9, 1925 with total pledges of over $392,000, the objective having been $300,000.00.
The Sturdy Homestead, formerly the main hospital was relocated in the rear of the Nurses' Home, giving much needed additional accommodation for nurses, and a three story, sixty-five room, buff brick and stone, modern hospital building was erected on the site of the old hospital.
The new unit reached such a point of completion as to permit of the registra- tion of the first patient therein on July 25, 1926. On September 30th the building was thrown open for inspection by the public, and while no formal exercises were attempted, in the evening a dinner was given to the local and consulting staffs, with an especially splendid representation of the latter who were exceedingly generous in their commendation of the entire hospital plant and its equipment, highly significant, coming from professional men who have frequent contacts with the very best hospital facilities in the country.
153
ANNUAL REPORT
The death of Joseph L. Sweet in July, 1932, ended the services of one who has been active in the management and expansion of the hospital from its beginning. For more than twenty years, he was president of the corporation, and to that office he brought not only an executive ability, but the financial support which the institution needed so badly. He was intensely interested in seeing first, that the hospital was well equipped to meet the needs of the community, and second, that it was endowed and fortified against financial stress.
Up to the time of his death, his donations exceeded $207,000, not counting various annual gifts given from time to time for needed equipment or special purposes. Under his will, he generously provided for further gifts, of which $155,000 has already been received and added to the permanent funds. Further- more, his will directed that the residue of his estate, after the termination of the life interest of his widow, should be paid to the hospital.
We now have an up-to-date 125 bed hospital with a replacement value for the plant of over half a million dollars, well nigh complete in its appointments with well-equipped and competently administered X-Ray, Laboratory and Phy- siotherapy departments.
A capable and devoted staff of physicians, superintendent and nurses, a consulting staff of physicians and surgeons of wide repute, and an interested public, largely represented through the effective help rendered by the women's organization now known as the Sturdy Memorial Hospital Aid Association, have resulted in the develpoment of one of the finest hospitals in New England, with a standard of efficiency equivalent to that in many of the larger and well known hospitals.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGERS
To the Honorable Mayor and Municipal Council,
and to the Trustees of the Attleborough Hospital:
When our new unit was built in 1925 there was some question raised about the need of so large a building-some conjecture as to whether we could fill or support a hospital of 125 beds. It has now been demonstrated that wise fore- sight was used in planning for the years ahead.
The first full year of operation-1915-the hospital admitted 295 patients; in 1925, when the substantial addition was built, 1394; and in 1939, the year just closed, 2457.
While it is true that at no time have we had to use the private rooms on the third floor to capacity, already there have been several times when we have had to take care of more maternity and ward cases than our rated capacity, and our maximum number in any one day has closely approached 100. Thus, it can readily be seen that our seemingly adequate facilities would be taxed probably beyond capacity in any emergency such as an epidemic or a major catastrophe from which we play we may be spared.
There has been a remarkable increase in admissions from Foxboro, Norton, Rehoboth and Mansfield. Indeed, the increased number from Foxboro suggests the desirability of having a physician from that town on our staff.
Financially, our report is pleasing, as we had, for the first time in several years, more cash receipts than expenses-to be specific, a small balance amounting to $557.81, thus reducing the deficit, accumulated since 1925, to $15,814.41. Our unpaid patient accounts considered collectible-approximately $6,200.00-are nearly equal to our accounts payable at the end of the year, so that in the year 1939, the hospital broke just about even.
Early in the year, Mis. Sarah E. Darrah gave us a thousand dollars to be spent for current needs and this sum was used advantageously for the purchase of essential equipment in the obstetrical department. Later on Mrs. Darrah
154
ANNUAL REPORT
passed away and her will disclosed that she had made generous bequests to the hospital, both direct and as residuary legatee. We also received another ad- dition of $20,266.49 to the previous bountiful gifts of the late Charles C. Wil- marth.
Again we appeal for a larger membership in the corporation, not because of the financial contribution involved, but because we need a much larger personal in- terest in hospital affairs in order to carry on properly-at present we have 76 life and 32 annual members. The fee for a life membership is one hundred dollars and the annual dues are ten dollars. A friend of the hospital has said that we ought to have a thousand members.
The skilled and faithful service of the doctors and nurses on our staff, the financial assistance of the Hospital Aid through the medium of the Community Chest, the personal and material help of its membership, coupled with that of various church and club organizations, and a splendid public response on Dona- tion Day, are all contributing factors to maintaining our preferred rating as a Class A hospital.
We attach to this report the amounts expended from the city appropriation in 1939 and our estimated requirements for the same items in 1940.
Harold E. Sweet, Chairman
Members Ex-Officio 1939
Joseph Finberg
John W. McIntyre, Mayor
Victor R. Glencross
William Marshall, City Treasurer
William J. Luther
Francis S. Manchester,
Samuel M. Stone Edwin F. Thayer
Municipal Council Representative
Board of Managers, Attleborough Hospital, Inc., Operating Sturdy Memorial Hospital for the City of Attleboro.
Expended 1939
Requested 1940
Water
$1,110.58
$1,200.00
Insurance
84.44
105.00
Hydrant.
60.00
60.00
Fuel and Light.
5,354.18
5,245.00
Treasurer's Bond.
25.00
25.00
$6,634.20
6,635.00
Parking Area
65.02
$6,699.22
155
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT
Miss G. G. Rice, R. N. Superintendent
To the Board of Trustees and Managers of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital:
Gentlemen :
I herewith present my annual report of the Hospital for the year ending December 31, 1939:
Total number of patients admitted to the hospital. Male 888
2457
Female 1569
Out-patients treated at the hospital. 688
X-ray out-patients. 878
Physiotherapy out-patients. 24
Basal Metabolism out-patients. 20
Total out-patients. 1610
Total number of Private Cases. 1576
Total number of Ward Cases 881
Total number of children 12 years of age or under 323
Medical patients 235
Adults 199
Children 36
Surgical patients. 808
Adults 712
Children 96
E. E. N. & T. patients 314
Adults
123
Children 191
Obstetrical patients 1106
Mothers 563
Babies 543
(Of these, 6 patients were treated on two services)
Total number of births. 554
Total live births. 543
Total stillbirths 11
Total number of deaths for the year.
129
Medical
59
Surgical
56
E. E. N. & T.
1
Obstetrical
1
Newborn
12
156
ANNUAL REPORT
Autopsies.
8
Daily average for the year 67.93
Maximum number of patients. 88
Minimum number of patients. 45
Total number of accidents. 180
Automobile accidents. 70
Industrial accidents. 36
Other accidents
74
Report of the Operating- Room
Major operations. 433
Minor operations. 907
Transfusions 56
Cystoscopies
6
Proctoscopies
4
Total 1406
Report of the Physiotherapy Department 56 Patients admitted to the Department 653 Visits to the Department
Treatments given-Diathermy 77
Massage
372
Ultra-violet A. C. 51
Infra-Red. 435
Sinusoidal 17
359
Total 1311
Diseased conditions treated-
Anemia.
1
Arthritis
2
Burns
1
Bursitis, subdeltoid. 2
5
Fractures
28
Granulating wounds .
2
Hemaplegia
1
Herpes zosta.
1
Infected wounds.
3
Neuritis
1
Phlebitis.
1
Psoriasis.
1
Sacro-iliac strain.
1
Scurvy
1
Synovitis
1
(24 Out-patients. 32 House-patients)
Report of the X-Ray Department
Fluroscopic examinations. 98
X-Ray examinations 1435
Total number.
1533
(878 Out-patients. 655 House-patients)
Exercises
Contusions
157
ANNUAL REPORT
Report of Basal Metabolism
Basal Metabolism examinations. .... 23
(20 Out-patients. 3 House-patients)
Report of the Laboratory
Blood Work-
W. B. C. 1878
R. B. C. 747
Hemoglobin 652
Differentials 396
Coagulations
237
Typings 256
Miscellaneous tests. 23
Blood Chemistry-
Blood sugars 162
N. P. N. 155
33
Sulfanilamide level.
64
Icterus Index .
14
Van den Bergh
5
Miscellaneous tests .
2
Urines .4206
Renal Functions.
28
Stool Examinations. 37
Smears
100
Cultures
160
Spinal Fluids
46
Sputum Examination
80
Pneumococcus-typing 13
Miscellaneous Tests
10
Surgical Tissues 383
Sent to State Laboratory 168
Hintons (blood)
7
Widals
9
Undulant Fever Agglutination 7
REPORT OF THE TRAINING SCHOOL
Student Nurses in the School December 31, 1939. 51
(12 of these students are always away affiliating)
Students admitted during the year 27
(7 of this number had to give up the course, being unable to do the the class-work)
Students graduated. 14
The banquet was given to the Graduating Class by the Nurses' Alumnae
Graduate Nurses employed for Floor Work. 3
(We had 9 employed at the beginning of the year)
The health record for the Nurses has been quite good- 1 Fractured leg
1 Appendectomy and a few other minor illnesses
Many of the doctors have given us valuable assistance with the class-work and we feel deeply grateful to them for their help.
Hintons (spinal fluid)
Creatinine
158
ANNUAL REPORT
It has been a very active year in all departments with an increase of 159 in-patients over last year's number.
X-Ray Department increase of 243 over last year's number.
Out-patient increase of 91 over last year's number.
There has also been a great increase in operations performed at night in the hospital. If this continues we shall have to employ two graduate nurses to take care of the operating-room work, as it is rather hard for the present staff to handle both the day and night work.
There has been some very valuable equipment given to the hospital this year-an Oxygen Tent was donated by the Graduate Nurses Club to the Chil- dren's Ward an Electric Breast Pump to the Maternity Department by Mrs. H. E. Sweet, and some Thermos Ice-water Bottles for keeping drinking water in the private rooms, by Mrs. Harvey E. Clap.
These items have added much to the comfort of the patients and to the efficiency of the work of the hospital.
With much regret I speak of the death of Dr. G. Adelbert Emard, which occurred last August. He was a very valuable member of our Staff, always willing to answer any call from the hospital night or day, and even though living in Mansfield, he never delayed coming. We shall greatly feel his loss. His widow has donated to the Medical Library of the Hospital all his valuable books.
Respectfully submitted,
G. G. Rice, Superintendent
Patients admitted from
Attleboro
1032
South Attleboro
129
Hebronville.
34
Dodgeville
27
1222
North Attleboro
374
Attleboro Falls.
56
430
Plainville.
79
Wrentham.
40
Norton.
109
Chartley
28
Mansfield
175
Foxboro
53
Seekonk
101
Rehoboth
75
Franklin .
4
664
Other cities and towns
141
141
Total
2457
159
ANNUAL REPORT
NATIVITIES
United States
Foreign
Massachusetts
1755
Canada
112
Rhode Island .
256
England.
29
New Hampshire
35
Ireland
25
Maine.
34
Italy.
23
Connecticut .
24
Portugal
15
Vermont
18
Scotland
14
New York.
18
Sweden.
10
Pennsylvania
18
Poland.
10
New Jersey
13
Germany
5
Michigan
4
Russia .
3
Illinois.
3
Greece
2
Florida.
2
Holland
2
Missouri
1 Austria.
1
Louisiana
1
China.
1
Virginia
1
Albania.
1
Colorado
1
Brazil.
1
Arkansas.
1
Armenia.
1
Iowa.
1
Norway
1
Kansas
1
Serbia.
1
Kentucky
1
Syria.
1
Tennesee.
1
Australia
1
California
1
Latvia .
1
Wisconsin.
1
Denmark
1
South Carolina
1
Turkey
1
Georgia
1
Cuba
1
Hawaii.
1
2194
263
REPORT OF THE HOSPITAL LIBRARIAN
The collection of books at the Hospital Library is now 321, part of which are a permanent collection and part of which are sent down at regular intervals from the Central Library.
Nine magazines are also available including: Popular Mechanics, Readers' Digest, National Geographic, American, Cosmopolitan, Photoplay, Hunting and Fishing, Ladies Home Journal, and Child Life.
The circulation of books and magazines during the year was 3737, a slight gain over last year. The proportion of books circulated to nurses and employees being about equal to the number circulated to patients.
The number of books lost and mislaid by nurses and patients is still very high, but as yet no way has been found to remedy this situation.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathleen MacKell, Hospital Librarian.
160
ANNUAL REPORT
To the Board of Managers, and Members of the Staff of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen :
The following is a brief summary of the activities of the Surgical Service for the year 1939:
Total number of surgical patients admitted. 808
Adult. . 712
Children 96
Major operations performed. 133
Minor operations performed 907
Transfusions. 56 Cystoscopies. 6
Total number of surgical deaths. 56
There was an increase of 117 surgical cases admitted to the hospital over the previous year, which is in line with the steadily broadening field of usefulness to the community which the hospital has constantly maintained in all of its departments since its inception.
Among the 433 cases upon whom major operations were performed there were 34 deaths, a large majority of which were among old debilitated people with grave surgical conditions that demanded operation in the forlorn hope of pro- longing their lives. In many instances the condition which finally drove them to the hospital had been present for a long time, and had they sought relief earlier many could have been saved.
There were 907 minor operations performed with two deaths, and in both instances the operative procedure could not have been a contributing factor to the unfortunate outcome.
The total number of operations both major and minor during the year was 1340. Of the remaining 20 fatal cases accidental injuries were responsible for the death of 15, and 6 of the 15 were due to automobile accidents. In the remain- ing 5 cases no operation was performed.
During the year the Surgical Service has suffered a serious loss in the un- timely death of one of our most valuable and highly respected members, Dr. G. A. Emard of Mansfield, who had served continuously and most faithfully since the different services were organized in 1925.
In spite of the steadily increasing number of ward cases entering the hospital, the usual devotion to duty and unfailing interest in the patients entrusted to their care, which we have learned to expect from the members of the staff, has been most apparent at all times.
In closing I should like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Managers, the superintendent, and nurses for the sincere attitude of helpfulness and cooperation which has existed throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted, John A. Reese, Chief of Surgical Staff.
161
ANNUAL REPORT
To the Board of Managers and Members of the Staff, of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
The following is a summary of the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat service for the year 1939.
A total of 314 patients were treated by this service as follows: Tonsillectomies and Adenoidectomies . 267
Simple Mastoidectomies. 11
Radical Mastoidectomies. 1
Submucous resection of Nasal Septum 7
Reduction of fractured nose . 4
Extirpation of Lacrymal Sac. 1
Iridectomy . 1
Excision of stone in Wharton's Duct. 1 Ethmoidectomy 1
Minor operations. 20
There was one death on this service as follows: Right chronic mastoiditis Lepto-Meningitis Cerebellar abscess.
Outside this death the year has been uneventful with no serious complications. The cooperation of the members of this service left very little to be desired. May I here express my appreciation.
The members of the service hereby extend their thanks to the nursing staff and to the executive department of the hospital for their willing and efficient help at all times.
Respectfully submitted, Arthur C. Conro, M. D., Chief of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Service.
To the Board of Managers,
and the Members of the Staff of the Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen:
The report and summary of the work of the members of the Staff on the Medical service for the year 1939 is herein submitted to you.
The number of patients admitted to the hospital and treated on the medical service was again greater. During the past few years there has been a small increase each year in the number of patients admitted to the service and in 1939 there were 23 more as compared with 1938. It will be noticed that the number of children treated on the service during 1939 was increased.
There were 2223 hospital days on the service and the average stay of the patient admitted was nearly a day less than the previous year.
Again we find our highest death rate to occur within 24 hours after patients have been admitted to the hospital. Nineteen or 32.2% of all deaths during the year occurred within 24 hours. Thirty-three of the total number of deaths came within 96 hours after the patients were admitted. It is unfortunate that the hospital with its ample facilities for the treatment of patients is not used at an earlier date in the sickness of patients admitted for treatment and care. I feel that the record given above does not show a just consideration of the hospital norf or the physicians who are on the medical service. The hospital can give little of its care and the physicians are given little time to relieve the sufferings of the patients.
162
ANNUAL REPORT
The following is a brief summary of the work of the medical service during the year 1939.
Total number of patients admitted to the service. 235
Adults. . 199
Children 36
Total number of deaths
59
Two cases were transferred to the surgical service and one transferred to a hospital in Providence.
Six patients were carried over from 1938, and eight patients entered in 1939 are still in the hospital.
The total number of deaths was 59 due to the following diseases:
Cerebral hemorrhage ...
5
meningo-vascular lues. 1
interstitial nephritis 1
Cerebral thrombosis 1
1
Lobar pneumonia .
4
pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic nephritis
1
Broncho-pneumonia .
2
diabetes mellitus, latent lues.
1
diabetes.
1
streptococcic infection of nose. 1
Oedema of lung, healed duodenal ulcer, ulceration of urinary bladder and hemorrhage into intestine.
1
Congenital heart disease
1
Coronary thrombosis 2
Congestive heart failure. 1
Chronic valvular disease, mitial stenosis, chornis nephritis, hypertension 1
nephritis, uremia. 1
mitral regurgitation and stenosis, chronic nephritis 1
Essential hypertension, coronary embolus .
2
General arteriosclerosis.
1
cerebral embolus 1
cerebral thrombosis 3
coronary thrombosis 1
Hypertensive heart disease
3
coronary thrombosis
1
broncho-pneumonia. 1
cerebral hemorrhage 1
subarachnoid hemorrhage 1
Rheumatic heart disease, mitial and aortic stenosis.
1
mitral stenosis and regurgation.
Carcinoma of stomach with metastasis to lung and pelvis
1
Gastric enteritis.
1
Peptic ulcer, peritonitis . 1
1
cerebral thrombosis 1
pyelonephritis, uremia 1
Chronic nephritis
interstitial nephritis, cerebral hemorrhage
1
emphysemia, periotinitis, septicemia 1
1
Diabetis mellitus, diabetic coma
2
Meningitis, influenzal.
163
ANNUAL REPORT
Chronic vascular nephritis
1 Acute pyelo-nephritis 1
Pernicious anaemia with neurological involvement. 1 Plastic anaemia. 1
Mediastinal tumor, lymphosarcoma with metastasis 1
The members of the service have appreciated the co-operation of the physi- cians on the other services and found the advice given in consultations of great value in carrying on their work. It is this co-operation and better work which has made possible their results in the treatment of the sick.
The careful supervision of the Superintendent of the hospital and the nursing care given patients by our nurses have lightened the work of the physicians on servcie and have played no small part in the results of the year. We extend to them our appreciation for their work and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, Herbert Lowell Rich, M. D., Chief of the Medical Service,
To the Board of Managers and Staff of Sturdy Memorial Hospital,
Gentlemen :
The following report of the Department of Obstetrics is respectfully sub- mitted:
Total number of patients.
1106
Mothers 563
Babies. 543
Total births.
Live births 543
Stillbirths 11
13
Mothers.
1
Babies.
12
Causes of death:
Mother-Progressive pulmonary edema
1
Babies-
Premature birth
4
Asphyxia neonatorium .
4
Respiratory paralysis with spinal ankylosis
1
Hydrocephalis
1
Bronchial pneumonia .
1
Diaphragmatic heinia.
1
Deliveries:
Normal 436
Low forceps
63
Mid forceps. 14
High forceps.
Breech. 0
19
Footling 10
4
Caesarean 3
With the ever increasing number of births in the hospital our mortality rate has decreased; we however hope this may be improved in the coming year.
The addition of the Hess Bed and the new Delivery Table, the Electric As- pirator and Breast Pump have modernized our department and will aid in caring for prematures.
For these added facilities we wish to express our appreciation to the manage- ment.
The splendid cooperation of the Staff, Superintendent, Nursing group and Management is most sincerely appreciated.
Respectfully submitted, Joshua W. Clarke, M. D., Chief of Obstetrical Staff.
Version
554
Deaths
164
ANNUAL REPORT
To the President and Board of Managers, Sturdy Memorial Hospital:
I herewith submit a report of the work of the Department of Anesthesia for the year 1939.
Of 1239 operative procedures requiring anesthesia 167 were treated under local and spinal methods.
The remainder were administered various forms of inhalation anesthetics with unusually satisfactory results and freedom from complications and with a minimum of post operative discomfort.
All the ward and a great majority of private cases were anesthetized by the physicians constituting the anesthesia service. Our experience closely parallels that of the services in other hospitals as reported by them.
It is gratifying to note the change that has taken place in the patient's attitude toward anesthesia in recent years. While the average patient is interested in what sort of anesthesia he is to take and who will have charge of it, he seldom dreads the procedure. Patients often speak post-operatively of the anesthesia as a not unpleasant experience.
With this report I also wish to thank the members of the Surgical and Operat- ing-room staffs for their continuous help and advice.
Doctor Leonard W. Hill who completes his first year of service, has proved to be very faithful and helpful in our work.
Respectfully submitted,
Frederick V. Murphy, M. D., Chief of Anesthesia Service.
To the Board of Managers,
and Members of the Staff of Sturdy Memorial Hospital:
During the year 1939 we trained a graduate nurse, Miss Marion Waldion, as an assistant technician. She has become very proficient at the work and to- gether with Miss Marjorie Grant, as technician, we have been able to keep abreast of the demands on the laboratory.
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