Sessional_Paper_1892 — Page 456

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Enclosure 4.

Report of the Apothecary.

CIVIL HOSPITAL,

21st May, 1892. SIR, I have the honour to submit the following report on the work in the Hospital Pharmacy during 1891.

2. Out-patients.-A reference to the following table will show that the increase of work in this section, alluded to in my last annual report, has been fully maintained during the year under review :-

Year.

New

Renewed prescriptions. prescriptions.

Total.

1880,.

697

1881,

761

1882,.

910

1883,

1,399

1884,

1,719

·

1885,

2,441

..

1886,

2,386

1,674

4,060

1887.

2,410

1,705

4,115

1888,

3,009

1,667

4,676

1889.

3,103

2,161

5,264

1890,

3,731

2,601

6,332

+

1891,.

3,917

2,914

6,831

3. In-patients.-1,867 in-patients were supplied with medicines in 1891 against 1,957 in the previous year. There is thus a slight falling off under this head. A great saving of both time and money has been effected by establishing in each wing of the Hospital a supply of the medicines in common use for administration by the nurses and wardmasters.

4. Issue of Medical Stores.-In the following table will be found a statement of the number of requisitions for Medical Stores which have been received during the past year :-

Service.

Number of Requisitions.

Italian Convent, Gaol Hospital, Police Stations, Small-pox Hospital,

Lunatic Asylums,

Lock Hospital,

Hospital ship Hygeia,

46

65

228

50

15

20

Observatory, Schools, Magistracy, &c.,.

These requisitions are for miscellaneous medicines in bulk, prepared for the most part in this Department, and do not include the prescriptions of departmental or other physicians. With the exception of $150 provided in the estimates for the Lock Hospital, the charges for these services are borne by this Department.

5. Manufacture of Pharmacopoeial preparations.-The resources of the Hospital in this connexion have been utilized to the fullest extent and a large saving to Government has been effected by the manufacture of preparations which it was the custom in former years to procure from the Crown Agents for the Colonies.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

Dr. PH. B. C. AYRES,

Colonial Surgeon and Inspector of Hospitals.

W. EDWARD CROW,

Govt. Apoth, and Analyst.