The Seamen's Retreat Hospital - Annual Report of the Physician-in-Chief, Chaplain, and Auditing Committee

New York, New York: L.H. Biglow & Company, 1879. Minor toning, wrappers somewhat dust soiled/toned. The occasional nick or spot. One small open tear to right-hand edge of upper wrapper.. The Annual Report of the Physician-in-Chief, Chaplain, and Auditing Committee covering the year 1878 for the Seamen's Retreat Hospital. Includes a list of trustees and officers. The physician's report includes several tables reporting the number of patients with diseases ranging from Anemia to Tetanus; numbers of admissions and discharges; the amount of cubic feet of air per patient; a list of products farmed from the Hospital garden; and a fascinating table reporting the "Nativity" of patients admitted in 1878-- i.e., the patients' country of origin. The United States and Italy top the list, with others such as Honduras, Malta, and Barbados also represented. The auditing committee report provides an exhaustive list of expenses, noting every dollar spent on books, candles, lumber, tea, and even fireworks. 8vo (9.25" by 5.75"), pp. 25, [3], with decorative tailpieces/etc. The Seamen's Retreat was located on Staten Island, and opened in 1831 by the Marine Hospital Service for the benefit of retired naval officers and sailors. It was funded by a port of entry tax on all seamen, and was for the majority of its existence the only hospital dedicated to treating merchant seamen. In 1858, it was the target of a rash of xenophobic arson attacks from locals who opposed Staten Island's practice of quarantining sick immigrants (now referred to as the Staten Island Quarantine War). The Seaman's Retreat was officially closed in 1981.