legislation in behalf of the hospital, will deem it proper to appropriate the sums estimated to be necessary to carry them into effect. In April last Dr. W. W. Godding resigned the post of first assistant physician of the hospital, which he had held for nearly five years, to accept the position of superintendent of the Massachusetts State Lunatic Hospital at Taunton. Dr. Godding was connected with the Government Hospital for the Insane for about six and one-half years, and discharged the highly responsible and often difficult duties assigned to him here, with marked ability, tact, and fidelity, and we have much confidence that his capacity and energies will prove fully equal to the much greater responsibilities of the distinguished position he now occupies. No other change than that just indicated took place in the medical staff of the hospital during the year, and the remaining assistants, Dr. Eastman and Dr. Franklin, have continued to discharge their duties with faithfulness, energy, and ability. The housekeeper of the hospital, Miss Bennett, and the clerk, Mr. Lyon, deserve notice for their intelligence and untiring devotion to the economical interests of the institution. We have also a high appreciation of the integrity and faithfulness dis played by most of the attendants and other employés of the establish ment. Again invoking for this noble institution the fostering care of the Department and a continuation of the same liberal support of Congress which it has always hitherto enjoyed, We are, very respectfully, your obedient servants, W. GUNTON, President of the Board. C. H. NICHOLS, Superintendent and ex officio Secretary of the Board. Hon. J. D. Cox, REPORT. COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND LYING-IN ASYLUM, SIR: The board of directors most respectfully submit the accompanying report of the surgeon-in-chief of the above hospital, and earnestly recommend that the amount therein estimated, $18,500, be asked for the support of the institution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1872. This is the sum that was appropriated by Congress last year for the same purpose, with the addition of $500 for books and instruments, which are much needed, and for which no appropriation has hitherto been asked. It will be seen that the numbers seeking the advantages to be derived from treatment in this institution are largely on the increase, but we believe, by a continuance of the economy which has hitherto been exercised in the disbursements, that the sum asked will be sufficient for the year in question so far as the support of the institution is concerned. Up to the present time we have had no permanent home, retaining possession of the buildings we have occupied by the tenure of short leases, and a portion of the time being tenants on sufferance only. The buildings have been ill adapted for the purposes of a hospital, and the general accommodations insufficient to meet the increasing demand. To conduct a hospital successfully and economically it is necessary that it should be thoroughly ventilated, sewered, and abundantly supplied with water; all its appointments should be labor-saving. Such an edifice must either be built de novo from well-digested plans, or a building selected susceptible of the necessary alterations. The building now occupied by the hospital is very advantageously situated at the junction of L street with Pennsylvania avenue, and on the line of the city railroad. The buildings are commodious and very substantial, and capable of alterations which will comply with all the requirements of a first-class hospital, and afford accommodations for one hundred and fifty patients. The owners of this property recently offered to sell it to the board of directors, with 40,000 feet of ground surrounding it, for $25,000. This offer was considered so advantageous, that after a careful survey of the buildings by competent architects, and a demonstration of their susceptibility of the necessary alterations by plans and estimates, it was decided to accept the offer conditionally; the condition being that Congress would appropriate a sufficient sum to assist in making the purchase and completing the proposed changes. The contemplated alterations will cost about $20,000. This, added to the cost of the buildings and grounds, makes a total of $45,000. Such a building as we should then have, the architects assure us, could not be erected for less than $60,000. The cost of the ground, at a low figure, would amount to $10,000, making a total of $70,000. This we can accomplish at an outlay of $45,000 only. We most respectfully recommend that an appropriation of $30,000 be asked from Congress to assist the directors in making the purchase and carrying out the proposed alterations. With this assistance, and such aid as the corporation of Washington will probably give, this desirable purchase can be consummated, and no further appropriation for rent would be required. We remain, very respectfully, your obedient servants, MOSES KELLY, President of the Board. JOHN N. COOMBS, Hon. J. D. Cox, Secretary of the Interior. Secretary of the Board. COLUMBIA HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND LYING-IN ASYLUM, October 30, 1870. GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to submit the following summary of the operations of the hospital under my charge for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870: Number of patients under treatment June 30, 1869 : In-door... Out-door Total... Number of patients admitted during the year ending June 30, 1870: མར| Total number of patients under treatment during the year ending June 1,329 |