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275 beds. Sixty- five rooms, six surgical wards and sixteen medical wards; five dressing rooms, and an operating room which has cost a small fortune.

The personnel of the hospital consists of fifty Sisters, four internes and twenty-five nurses.

A few years ago, by close crowding, at old St. Vincent's, they could accommodate 100 patients. There were a few Sisters and no nurses at all. When the present is compared with the past, it is very significant of the growth of this community.

The surroundings are magnificent. In front of this beautiful building stands the city, the population amounting at the present time to 150,000; midway flows the Williamette river, richly marged with foliage, studded with ships from every clime, and in the distance four peaks, notably Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens, perpetually snow white, clear cut against the sky.

Near St. Vincent's stands the sanatorium; a building set apart for infectious cases. The main hospital is conducted on modern lines; even sore throats are immediately transferred to the sanatorium. A great problem was the care of (pulmonary) tubercular cases; as a rule they are not accepted. Quite recently a new sanatorium has been founded on the most improved plan, so for the time this problem is settled in a meas

ure.

There are no diseases peculiar to Portland or the state; no malaria, and when small pox invaded the Northwest, this section was comparatively free.

Portland is an exceptionally healthy city, probably on account of its water supply and good drainage. Cases of typhoid rarely occur here; those encountered are imported from other sections which have a polluted water supply and bad drainage.

Cases mostly seen in the hospital come from a distance. It would be difficult to particularize any special disease. Portland is largely a medical center and cases are gathered from a wide tributary circuit and do not originate there.

At one time there was a great prejudice against hospitals, and operations were performed at private homes, but for many reasons which need not be dwelt upon here, this preju

dice has disappeared. All operative work is done at the hospitals, and when a man gets sick far away from Portland he comes, for he now knows he will be well treated for a comparatively small sum. If he wants a room, it will cost him $2 or $5; $10 if he is very particular; but if ward life suits him he can have that for $1 a day. A trained nurse and Sister to attend him; the doctor he can select himself.

Besides St. Vincent's hospital, there is another wellequipped hospital here, viz: the Good Samaritan, which in point of equipment ranks with any on the coast, presenting the same advantages as St. Vincent's in the way of room, board and operating facilities, only the situation is not so striking. Both these hospitals are at all times filled to their highest capacities; sometimes during the year accommodations can be easily secured, but as a rule rooms have to be spoken for in ady ace.

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Besides these hospitals there are other institutions scattered here and there, like the Northwest Sanatorium, which ought to be referred to, well supplied with all modern requirements, but we think sufficient has been said to promise the visitors who come to Portland that in so far as hospital work is concerned they furnish interesting clinical material, and sufficient for all who wish to form a personal opinion of the environments.

One of the hospitals has two wards set apart entirely for Japanese; here can be seen diseases peculiar to them; notably Beri Beri.

During the week major operations can be daily witnessed at these institutions, the latest additions to technique; the work done, we understand, can bear comparison with results obtained in larger centres.

The city is now well provided with electric car service, and all the suburbs are accessible, so that a professional man can make visits over a large area. For instance, we know of professional men who practice thirteen miles away; who operate at one of the city hospitals in the morning and return to their offices at midday, and so are able to keep in close touch with their cases by 'phone, making one daily visit to the hospital.

This presents quite a contrast to the car service we had several years ago in this, as well as other cities. It was rare for professional visits to be made at so great a distance. Rapid transit is well developed already, and great extension is still in progress.

Portland is understood to be a live medical centre, and well supplied with all modern equipments. Visitors to the city are noted to say over and over again that the professional men here rarely have but little personal difference compared with those of other sections.

In the matter of public objects and utility for the welfare of the public, there is not the slightest difficulty in obtaining the support of the medical profession here, and when it became apparent that it would add to the prestige of this state or city to have the American Medical Association meet here, there was no hesitancy on the part of all the workes to co-operate zealously with that object in view. This was re through the means of a local society whose influence has been potent in organizing and sustaining many efforts for the good of the public in the face of thoughtless opposition.

To show that the medical profession of this state are alive to the public interest and health of the state, attention can be drawn to the work of their board of health in the past year.

Contagious diseases are mild compared with those of the more crowded communities in the East, still much work has to be done in this field, and the authorities here are now prepared to make a bacteriological examination of suspicious throat cases free of charge, also the Widal's test in typhoid fever, and the examination of milk.

Much work has also been done in school hygiene and in vital statistics. A sanatorium for tubercular cases has recently been opened and at the present time agitation is taking place for the origination of an emergency hospital, including ambulance service; in short, indications point to Portland as being a great center of distribution, continually expanding and responding to legitimate requirements in a remarkable manner.

In conclusion it may be stated truthfully that the rank and file of the profession in this community deeply recognize the responsibility of becoming the host of the American Medical Association and so will spare no pains to make the gathering what it should be, from both a scientific and social stand

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