15

will not be until there is an addition to the roll from the
counties.

There has not been at any time in the last twenty years a
prevalent febrile, contagious or inflammatory disease in the
Hospital. The physical health of the older inmates in the
last two years, excepting those with whom it was broken
down when they were admitted, or became so after a slow
process of deterioration in the vital functions, has been, in
general, good.

The same course of moral; medicinal and hygienic manage-
ment which has been heretofore pursued, with the addition
of such advantages as longer experience has contributed, re-
mains in daily operation; and a continued supervision is
exercised over the details in the proceedings of the household
to promote its welfare, mentally and physically.

Among the improvements which have of late years been
made, none has surpassed in value the introduction of the
new heating apparatus by means of the circulation of hot
water in pipes, permanently arranged throughout the main
building. Formerly the method of heating was by means of
thirteen hot air furnaces and five coal stoves, all within the
Hospital. It was rot only a most inefficient method com-
pared with the present one, but it was attended with various
annoyances now no longer experienced; for example,—the
wheeling of coal into the interior, and passing with it by the
sitting and bed-rooms of patients in the wards where the
furnaces were placed; the diffusion of the dust from ashes and
coal whenever the furnaces were undergoing either a raking
or cleaning; and the risk of a conflagration taking place with
so many fires in blast during the winter. The only fire now
required inside is that of the kitchen. The new apparatus
has not been long enough in use to enable me to report the
amount of coal which it will consume in a winter. It is pro-
bable, however, from present data that the consumption will
be less than formerly.

Statements are prefixed to this report, exhibiting the gen-
eral cash account, the financial condition and the revenue
of each of the two years. These statements, in connection
with the book accounts and vouchers, have been examined by
the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee have zealously continued to keep
themselves acquainted with the affairs of the Institution, and
have rendered valuable counsel and co-operation whenever
there has been occasion for their services.

In the month of November last, Dr. Fisher, the President
of the Hospital, at a visit thereto, after as usual making an
inspection of the several wards, and conversing with the
officers in charge of the Institution as to some of its needs,
at the moment of leaving, handed a check to the Medical
Superintendent payable to the order of the Treasurer for