Devonshire hospital and Buxton Bath charity : instituted for the relief of poor persons from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland suffering from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and neuralgia ; pains, weakness or contractions of joints or limbs, arising from these diseases, or from sprains, fractures, or other local injuries ; chronic forms of paralysis ; dropped hands, and other poisonous effects of lead, mercury, or other minerals ; spinal affections ; dyspeptic complaints, uterine obstructions, etc. etc. ; supported by annual subscriptions and voluntary contributions : annual report for the year 1878 ; management, history, annual statement, accounts, meteorological report and tables, rules and regulations, list of subscriptions and benefactions &c., Bath charity report for 1785, and copies of conveyances of hospital and baths from the Duke of Devonshire to the trustees.

  • Devonshire Royal Hospital (Buxton, Derbyshire, England)
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Devonshire hospital and Buxton Bath charity : instituted for the relief of poor persons from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland suffering from rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and neuralgia ; pains, weakness or contractions of joints or limbs, arising from these diseases, or from sprains, fractures, or other local injuries ; chronic forms of paralysis ; dropped hands, and other poisonous effects of lead, mercury, or other minerals ; spinal affections ; dyspeptic complaints, uterine obstructions, etc. etc. ; supported by annual subscriptions and voluntary contributions : annual report for the year 1878 ; management, history, annual statement, accounts, meteorological report and tables, rules and regulations, list of subscriptions and benefactions &c., Bath charity report for 1785, and copies of conveyances of hospital and baths from the Duke of Devonshire to the trustees. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    E E P O K T OF THE COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR 1878. The members of the Committee of Management are enabled to report, as usual, the great usefulness of the Hospital, and they necessarily do this with much thankfulness. The Hospital has been added to the means of usefulness of the Buxton Bath Charity during twenty years, affording board and lodging, and every desirable care and attendance, to a much larger number of in-patients than the total number of the patients of the older institution with which it was incorporated in the year 1859. The number of in-patients admitted to the Hospital has been nearly trebled since the first and second years of its existence. The season of the year influences the pressure of applicants for admission. During the past year the total number of in-patients admitted has been 1575, being a decrease of 27 on the number received in 1877. This may be due to the great difficulty of reckoning the number of beds that will be vacant, owing to the uncertain number of patients whose stay may be prolonged. The difference is small in relation to the total number. These 1575 patients may be satisfactorily compared with the 622 admitted in 1859, or the 691 in 1860. The beneficial result obtained by the large number of in-patients has been even of unusual importance. Of the 1575 in-patients 1459 were discharged as having been relieved, 55 as no better, 4 left without report, 22 were discharged at their own request, 5 had to be discharged for drunkenness, 5 died, and 25 remained on the books at the end of the year. The number of out-patients admitted during the year was 214. The comparatively small number of the out-patients is owing to the value which attaches to the comforts and appliances of the Hospital. The out-patients consist chiefly of those who cannot obtain an in-patient's recommendation. At the same time it should be recognised that the out-patients include some exceptional cases of persons who are deservedly objects of charitable consideration, who may from their circumstances and antecedents not wish to be received into the Hospital, but are thankful to have gratuitously medical advice and medicines and the use of the Buxton baths and waters. Of the 214 out-patients 169 were discharged as relieved, 12 were no better, 30 left without report, and 3 remained on the books at the end of the year. The number of the out-patients who leave without report has always been matter of regret.