REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION. The committee on publication respectfully report that a brief statement of the proceedings of the last annual meeting, and a record of the number of cases treated at the dispensary was prepared, and ten thousand copies were printed in the form of a circular letter, for general distribution. An equal number of cards, having on one side the name of the dispensary, its location and objects for which it was established and is maintained; and on the other side the names of the officers and surgeons and physicians in attendance. Copies of the circular report and card, inclosed in an envelope, were placed in nearly every residence in the more thickly populated portions of the city. In houses occupied by more than one family, several copies were furnished. By this method accurate information has been directly communicated to the class designed to be benefited, concerning the benevolent objects desired to be accomplished by this chartitable institution. This systematic and direct communication of information regarding the institution for the benefit of the poor of the city, has been resorted to twice; once in the spring of 1869, and once in the month of November, 1870. To these efforts, chiefly, we may trace the suc cess of the dispensary. The committee has also ordered the preparation and printing, from time to time, such records, books and cards as were required for the registration and preservation of the records of cases treated at the dispensary. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION. The committee appointed to procure legislative action in behalf of the dispensary, respectfully report that they prepared a form of an act such as, in their opinion, would secure the object desired to be obtained. Having submitted it to the mayor, and members of the common council, for approval, placed it in the hands of the members of the Legislature from this city, through whose efforts it became a law. The form is similar to one passed winter before last, and amended and re-enacted last winter, for the benefit of dispensaries in the city of Brooklyn. It requires the city government to levy an assessment of the aggregate amount specified in the act, and when collected, pay it in equal portions to the treasurers of the three dispensaries at present organized in this city. The form prepared is as follows: CHAPTER 841.* AN ACT making provision for the support of certain Dispensaries in the City of Albany. PASSED April 28, 1871. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the Conimon Council of the city of Albany, hereafter to levy and raise annually, in the same manner as taxes are now required to be levied, the sum of one thousand dollars, and no more, to be paid to the treasurer of the Albany City Dispensary for its support;t and the sum of one thousand dollars, and no more, to be paid to the treasurer of the Albany City Hospital Dispensary for its support; and the sum of one thousand dollars, and no more, to be paid to the treasurer of the St. Peter's Dispensary, for its support. This act secures to each of the dispensaries in this city, a donation by the city of one thousand dollars annually. The committee are informed that the law has been complied with by the city authorities, and that the amount due the dispensary will be paid the last week in December. The committee feel that the thanks of this association are due to Senator Banks and the Hon. Messrs. Murphy and Coyle, for their efforts in promoting the passage of this act, and securing its final adoption. The committee also state that there has been obtained the usual annual appropriation by the Legislature to the support of the dispensary; also a liberal appropriation to a building fund. REPORT OF THE RESIDENT PHYSICIANS. In presenting the fourth annual report of the Albany City Dispensary, we desire to call attention to the method heretofore followed for registering the diseases treated. The plan adopted prior to the 1st of April, was one which exhibited a list classified by regions of the body. This plan, although concise and easily applied, was found to be defective and unsatisfactory. Since the 1st of April, a register of all diseases treated, arranged nosologically, has been carefully kept. This plan proves much more reliable, and indicates the extent and variety of the cases presented for treatment. A complete classification of all diseases arranged in accordance with this system is published in the second volume of the Transactions of the Society, page 151. * Session Laws, 1871. The name of the Albany City Dispensary was erased prior to the final passage of the bill. The report shows an increase in the number of cases and prescriptions of nearly fifty per cent over the number presented at the last annual meeting. The number of different cases treated is 2,941; the number of visits to patients at their residences, 3,709; the number of prescriptions to patients at the dispensary, 8,117. Total number of visits and prescriptions, 11,886. Total number to the present time, 26,714. The number of visits to patients at their residences averages 309 per month, and the number of visits and prescriptions nearly 1,000 per month. During the past year a daily surgical clinic has been maintained. The number of cases reported by this department is 535, an average of forty-four per month. Total number of prescriptions in this department, 1,935. It has been our purpose to endeavor to promote the interests of the institution, by a faithful performance of duty. We have endeavored to properly apply all the resources afforded by the dispensary for the appropriate treatment of the various forms of disease presented. We have constantly endeavored to convince those for whose benefit the institution is established, that they are entitled in the freest manner to its humane advantages. Comparative Monthly Summary of Prescriptions and Visits. 1,264 1,674 1,931 2,445 2, 423 2, 320 2,411 2, 389 2, 603 2, 351 2,371 2,198 26,714 |