REPORT OF THE FREEDMEN'S HOSPITAL.

INTRODUCTION.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 11, 1911. SIR: I have the honor to submit for your consideration the annual report of the Freedmen's Hospital for the fiscal year ended June 30,

1911.

The volume of work covered by this report is greater in every way than that of the preceding year, severely taxing the efforts of the hospital force to cope with the same.

Much has been done to improve the condition of the hospital generally, thereby adding to the care and comfort of the patients. The new wing, authorized by the sundry civil act of March 4, 1909, was completed and occupied during the year, providing 50 additional beds. The remodeling of the central power plant and construction of an electric-light plant were also completed and are in operation. Some idea of the amount and character of medical and surgical work done is set forth in detail in the statistical part of this report.

PATIENTS.

Patients admitted to the hospital are classed under two headsUnited States and District of Columbia. Those from the District of Columbia are received under a contract with the Board of Charities at the following rates: Adults, $1.10; children, $0.65; and babies, $0.40 per day.

At the close of the preceding year there remained 154 patients87 from the District of Columbia and 67 from the States. Two thousand four hundred and ninety-eight were received during the year, and 248 births occurred in the hospital, making a total of 2,900 indoor patients treated, as against 2,869 the previous year. Of those under care, 1,882 were residents of the District of Columbia and 1,018 were from the States. Two thousand seven hundred and twenty-four were discharged during the year, their conditions being as follows: Recovered, 1,416; improved, 919; unimproved, 138; not treated, 17; died, 234; leaving 176 in the hospital July 1, 1911, of which number 100 were from the District and 76 from the States.

The mortality for the year from all causes was 8+ per cent. Deducting the 13 premature births and the 57 moribund cases, the percentage of deaths is found to be 5.6+-a very low death rate for a hospital of this character.

In the surgical division 1,767 operations were performed, or 285 more than during the previous year.

OUTDOOR DEPARTMENT.

In this department 4,839 were treated-an increase of 292 over last year as follows.

Medical, 1,258; surgical, 351; nervous, 192; eye, 554; ear, nose, and throat, 437; pediatrics, 344; gynecology, 482; dermatology, 314; genito-urinary, 778; tubercular, 91; orthopedic, 38. The number of visits to this department was 5,637. Twelve thousand seven hundred and twelve prescriptions were compounded and 983 emergency cases were received.