Third annual report of the Kincolith Mission Hospital
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[1] THIRD ANNUAL REPORT
[2] of the
[3] KINCOLITH MISSION HOSPITAL
[4] with
[5] LIST OF CONTRIBUTIONS
[6] 1873-1874
[Page 2 left blank]
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[1] PREFACE
[2] KINCOLITH MISSION HOSPITAL was founded
[3] to meet a real want—there being no building for
[4] the admission, and treatment of sick Indians,
[5] withn a radius of 600 miles.
[6] It was thought by many that this effort would
[7] not be appreciated by the natives; and there ap-
[8] peared to be some ground for supposing this, for
[9] they are still very suspicious; and can hardly un-
[10] derstand any efforts being made on their behalf,
[11] except from motives of worldly gain. The number
[12] of patients who have applied for relief since the
[13] opening of the Hospital shews clearly that the
[14] natives do not look upon this effort to help them
[15] with suspicion or distrust. The advantages of
[16] having such an instiution are becoming more
[17] apparent to the Indians every year, and conse-
[18] quently it is more appreciated, especially by those
[19] who have neither relatives, nor friends at this
[20] mission station. Among the patients admitted
[21] during the past year were several who came from
[22] tribes distant 150 to 200 miles.
[23] The objects of Hospital are threefold—
[24] 1st. The gratuitous dispensing of medicine to all
[25] applicants, irrespective of tribe or moral standing
[26] 2nd. The reception into the wards of the Hospi-
[27] tal of all such cases as are considered suitable;
[28] and the medical, and surgical treatment of these
[29] cases as far as circumstances will permit.
[30] 3rd. The instruction of the patients in the doc-
[31] trines of the Christian Religion.
[32] Kincolith Mission Printing Press.
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[1] REPORT
[2] In presenting this, the THIRD annual report of
[3] KINCOLITH HOSPITAL, we would wish to say that
[4] we have found from experience, that it will be
[5] more convenient to let the hospital year close on
[6] the 31 st. of December instead of on the 30 th. of
[7] September, which date has been chosen to coin-
[8] cide with the close of the financial year of this
[9] mission. The advisability of this change will be
[10] apparent, when we say that it is not until Nov-
[11] ember, at soonest, that the really severe weather
[12] sets in; so that, during the month of October, fre-
[13] quent visits are paid to this river by the Indians
[14] from many of the surrounding tribes.
[15] At the approach of the cold weather any patients
[16] from other tribes who may be in Hospital are ta-
[17] ken home by their friends; and it is not until af-
[18] ter the beginning of the new year that we may
[19] expect fresh applications for admission.
[20] The present report, therefore, covers a space of
[21] fifteen months; vis—from September 30 th. 1873,
[22] to December 31 st. 1874. This extension of time
[23] however, has not affected the number of patients
[24] admitted; as my missionary duties necessitated
[25] my absence from home for the greater part of the
[26] months of Oct. Nov. and Dec. and therefore no
[27] patients were admitted during these months.
[28] INDOOR PATIENTS.
[29] The number (28) admitted during the year ex-
[30] ceeded by two that of last year. Among them
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[1] were representatives of eight different Indian set-
[2] tlements; and one white man. Had the building
[3] been finished. we could have admitted twice that
[4] number.
[5] The results of the treatment of these; and the
[6] three remaining in Hospital at the close of last
[7] year were as follows. — Cured, 16 — Much
[8] relieved, 12 — Discharged incurable, 1 —
[9] Dismissed for misconduct, 1 — Died, 1 —
[10] OUTDOOR PATIENTS.
[11] Several difficult, and important cases, which
[12] would have been received into Hospital, had it
[13] been finished, were treated as outdoor patients in
[14] the houses of some of their relations. or friends
[15] resident at this Mission, who kindly invited them
[16] in.
[17] DISPENSARY.
[18] The applications for advice and medicine con-
[19] tinue to increase in number: and much good has
[20] been done, and relief afforded not only in chronic
[21] and less serious complaints; but also in ar-
[22] resting, in their earliest stage, many attacks of
[23] dangerous diseases.
[24] The Dispensary may almost be said to be mi-
[25] gratory; for, when I visit any of the surrounding
[26] tribes, I have to carry a supply of medicine with
[27] me; as I am sure to be beset with applications for
[28] medicine. Often it requires no small amount of
[29] thought how to meet the more serious symptoms
[30] of a disease from a small, and, sometimes, nearly
[31] exhausted stock of medicine.
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[1] RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.
[2] In the two reports of this Hospital, previous-
[3] ly issued, reference has been made to several pa-
[4] tients who, while in hospital, had apparently been
[5] influenced by what they had there learned of the
[6] way of Salvation. As one of the objects of the
[7] Hospital is to afford religious instruction; and
[8] there may be some who take an interest in these
[9] cases, some further account of them may be inter-
[10] esting. Any who have read the first report may
[11] remember the case of a young girl, there referred
[12] to, as having heard the Word with all readiness
[13] of mind, while her sick mother seemed to turn a
[14] deaf ear to the message of Salvation. While on
[15] a tour, last November, I met this girl and her fa-
[16] ther at a place about 200 miles from here. She
[17] appeared glad to see me; and, during my stay at
[18] that place, she attended every meeting we held;
[19] and also family prayer. When asked about herself
[20] and family; she told me that her mother had died
[21] about a year before; that her father, who still re-
[22] mains sunk in heathenism, used all his influence
[23] to hinder her from going to live at Metlakahtla,
[24] or Kincolith. Hitherto he has suceeded; but she
[25] has had no peace of mind, while living as she is.
[26] She cannot, she says, smother the voice of con-
[27] science; or banish from her mind what she has
[28] heard from God’s Word. She has told her father
[29] that she has decided to give up her present mode
[30] of life, and to seek a home among those who are
[31] walking in God’s way.
[32] Of all the patients, (with the exception of one),
[33] who, on leaving hospital, expressed their deter-
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[1] mination to give up their heathen ways, I can
[2] speak with joy and hope: for they have shewn
[3] their sincerity by the way they have acted since
[4] that time. Last Christmas I baptized three of
[5] them, who have given evidence of a real change,
[6] and are now settled at Metlakahtla.
[7] Nor have the results of the past year been less
[8] encouraging. In no case was there a want of at-
[9] tention shewn; and in some a great eagerness was
[10] manifested. May God give us moe grace to sow;
[11] and make th see sown grown in many hearts, to
[12] the advancement of His Glory.
[13] THE BUILDING.
[14] Through a mistake of the postmaster at Vic-
[15] toria the letter, containing the money so kindly
[16] subscribed by friends at home, was not received
[17] for more than five months after it had been post-
[18] ed; and, as our principle is only to proceed when
[19] the means are at hand to meet the outlay, the sea-
[20] son was too far advanced for us to complete the
[21] building. Most, however, of the necessary mat-
[22] erials have been purchased, and some of them al-
[23] ready prepared for use. So that, with God’s bles-
[24] sing, we hop to have the building completed be-
[25] fore the close of the next year.
[26] FINANCIAL.
[27] The subjoined list of contributions proves
[28] that Christianity acts as a bond of union between
[29] hearts; and excites a fellow feeling and sympathy
[30] which no distance can weaken or destroy.
[31] Robert Tomlinson clk.
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