IN

N stately homes and in humble dwellings one may hear expressed the heartfelt thanks of parents when mention is made of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, founded for the purpose of caring for sick, destitute and friendless children, little ones who, through misfortune, disease and poverty, could not help themselves. The work of this institution has broad

ened each year. At every annual meeting of the trustees some new, costly and modern medica! and surgical equipment is reported as having been purchased. Every year the trustees wonder where the money is going to come from to pay the hospital expenses, yet every year the bills are paid. Warm is the interest and deep are the feelings of sympathy for a work such as this. Money comes to the workers from all parts of Canada when the want is made known. Last year as much as $20,000 was forward

ed from many sources during the Christmas season.

In 1874 the first contribution towards a children's hospital was made. It consisted of a few English coins. The project was noticed in the press, and from the town of Fergus, Ont., another donation of $20 was forwarded. Early in the following year the new hospital was opened in a dwelling rented for the purpose, and in it were placed six little cots.

From its inception the work made rapid progress. Depending altogether on voluntary subscription for its support its founders did not hesitate for a moment. The need for an institution had been pointed out. The highest medical authorities agreed that a special hospital should be equipped for the proper care of children only.

At first the patients were children from the homes of the poor, little sufferers who had never known what ease

The

and comfort was, little ones who were brought up in the dark shadows of poverty. As the hospital gained in experience it gained in reputation, and now it is looked upon as the best place for the sick children of all classes, a place within whose walls every little sufferer will have the advantage of a bright home, skilful treatment and careful nursing.

Since its foundation the Hospital for the Sick Children has had in its

beds 7,000 sick

children, and in its outdoor department has cared for 23,500 sick little

ones.

It may be safely stated that 70 per cent. of the patients are cured, while 25 per cent. are improved by the Hospital's care and attendance. The

patients

come from all parts of the province of Ontario, while the majority are received from Toronto. The number of patients from outside places is rapidly increasing.

The Hospital

has beds for 200 patients, with a staff of 40 nurses and domestics.

It has been said by those who are competent judges that there is no better equipped hospital in any city in the world. Certainly it is the largest sick children's hospital in the world.

The Lakeside Home for Little Children at Point Park, Toronto Island, is the largest children's sanitarium. It will bed 140 patients. Here, from June till October each summer, all the children who can be moved from the mother Hospital are cared for. It is a grand place for convalescent patients, the little ones reviving and rapidly regaining their strength from the ministering breezes of the broad lake.

This mother Hospital has nursed and cared for 30,500 sick children during the past 23 years, and half of this number has been nursed during the last four years.

The expense incurred each year is very large, over $30,000, or $2,500 a month. It costs 85 cents a day for each patient. Some of the little ones suffering from spinal troubles and deformities are often kept in the Hospital

for one or two years before a complete cure is effected.

Every sick child whose parents cannot afford to pay is taken into this Hospital, provided the cases are acute and such as can be cured or relieved. For parents who can afford to pay, a rate of $2.80 a week is made for the public wards, $7.50 for the semiprivate wards and $12 per week for a private ward. But very small in proportion to the total cost of maintenance is the amount received from pay patients, only $1,200 being received last year as against an expenditure of $39,311.

While the hospital is in such a peculiar position that its friends must be ever on the alert to provide means for its maintenance, still it is in a fairly good financial position. The buildings and equipment cost $217,025, and against this there was at the beginning of the fiscal year a mortgage of $5,000 and a bank overdraft of $4,315. At the Christmas season a special appeal was made to the public to clear off half the mortgage indebtedness, $25,000. At the time of writing $17,000 of this sum had been subscribed

THE BABY WARD.

and paid. The Trustees hope to receive the balance before the mortgage falls due. The prompt manner in which the people of Ontario respond to the appeals of the Hospital for Sick Children is considered wonderful. In 1895 some $6,000 was subscribed at Christmas time. In 1896 that amount was doubled, $12,000 being paid off the debt. In 1897 a bank overdraft of $20,000 was cleared off in two months when the Chairman of the Hospital Trust made public the fact that such a heavy overdraft had been incurred during the year in nursing 5,000 sick children. The donations come in sums of $1 and upwards. The scene in the Toronto Telegram office, the headquarters of this public appeal, on

Christmas Eve, is an inspiriting one. Those who undertake the work of planning and launching the appeal feel amply repaid by the steady stream of donors who bring their offerings to the newspaper office with kindly words of encouragement and expressed appreciation of the work.

It costs $2,000 to maintain a cot for all time in the Hospital, while $500 will endow a cot at the Lakeside Home. Seventeen cots have been endowed by bequests and donations. During the last

two years the children of the Toronto Public Schools provided a cot endowment fund with their pennies. The scholars of the schools outside the city also responded to an appeal and subscribed enough to maintain a cot forever. Besides the endowed cots there are 38 cots maintained by private donors and Sabbath Schools. The amount required to maintain a cot is $100, and the donor usually names the cot; this name is inscribed on a tablet at the head of the cot.

The Hospital is governed by five trustees:-J. Ross Robertson, M.P., (Chairman), Hon. Senator George A. Cox, E. B. Osler, M. P., Samuel Rogers, A. S. Irving.

Miss Maria Buchan is the Hon.

Treasurer of the Hospital, Miss Louise C. Brent is the Superintendent, and John H. Gordon is the Secretary.

A ladies' committee with twenty-two members takes an active interest in the work of the Hospital.

There are forty physicians and surgeons on the consulting and active medical staff, while within the Hospital there are always three resident surgeons.

The skill with which the work of the Hospital is carried on is best shown by the medical reports. The pecentage of deaths to the total number of patients last year was but 3.79. Some 415 surgical operations were performed successfully. Of the 688 indoor patients treated during the year 374 were cured, 149 improved, 43 were unimproved, 24 died, and 98 were still undergoing treatment at the end of the Hospital year.

A great deal of success has attended the work of the skilful surgeons who have charge of the Orthopaedic Department. The treatment of deformed feet is now one of the most important branches of the Hospital work. Many complete

cures have been effected. The little patients come from all parts of the Province. One can gladly comprehend how gladly the parents of these little unfortunates receive the news of their cure.

An little incident illustrating the manner in which some of the patients are gathered may be mentioned. Mr. J. Ross Robertson, a gentleman who has taken a deep interest in the work and without whose financial help the Hospital might long since have stranded on the mortgage rocks, was journeying along the country road near Brockville not long

ago. He was accompanied by a friend. As they neared a little red school-house by the roadside, the children were being dismissed for the day. They were running and shouting as only boys can shout. One little fellow was lagging behind. His legs were twisted

and crooked, and he walked with the aid of crutches. He had never known what it was to romp and play, for he had been a cripple from birth. Mr. Robertson asked his companion to pull up a bit, and alighting, he talked to the little fellow and very soon was in possession of the story of a sad boyhood. "Jump in with me," he said, "and I will drive you home in a few minutes. Would'nt you like to run a foot-race with the other boys?" They took the little chap to his home. Mr. Robertson told the father and

mother of the work of the Hospital and said he believed that their child's limbs could be straightened and strengthened. For over a year that boy was in the Hospital, and when he was discharged and arrived home he could romp and play or ride a bicycle just as well as any other boy. His legs were straight and strong. To this day the parents of that little boy bless the day when there drove along that roadway that earnest man who puts his whole heart and soul into the work of caring for the helpless children of a Province.

There are always over 100 patients in the cots. Application for admission is first made to the Secretary in writing.

The illustrations shown here are from photographs specially prepared at the Hospital for THE CANADIAN MAGAZINE.