At the Boston meeting of the Association of Hospital Superintendents, Dr. F. A. Washburn, Jr., of the Massachusetts General Hospital, in a paper on “Methods of Utilizing Hospital Waste” described the methods used in that hospital to reduce the consumption of gauze and soap. The paper contains so much that is valuable by way of illustrating what might be accomplished and how, that we have requested permission to insert it in this connection.
“Two main principles are involved in reducing hospital expenditures:
“1st. Using less new material.
“2nd. Utilizing waste material.
“In this paper I will dwell principally upon some of the methods which may be employed in carrying out the second of these two principles, namely, utilizing material which has formerly gone to waste.
“The item of absorbent gauze is a large one in every general hospital. At the Massachusetts General Hospital, in 1902, it amounted to $6,079.81, in 1903, to $5,959.37.
“Up to one year ago, at this hospital, it had been customary to destroy all gauze which had been soiled by blood or pus, and I believe that this was the rule at all hospitals, although some had made an attempt to recover the gauze from their clean cases. In October, 1904, with the consent of the visiting staff, a process of washing and sterilizing all gauze was adopted, and its success has exceeded our expectations.
“In the first eight months of 1904 we used over one hundred and forty miles of new gauze three feet wide. In the first eight months of 1905, we used fifty-one miles. The new gauze used in the first eight months of 1904 would have stretched from Boston nearly to New Haven, Conn., while in a corresponding period of 1905 it would have reached only five miles beyond Providence, R. I. Money actually expended for gauze during the first eight months of 1900 was: 1900, $3,774.01; 1901, $4,275.91; 1902, $3,872.61; 1903, $4,029.22; 1904, $4,366.52; 1905, $1,253.40.
“That shows a saving of about $3,000 in eight months over the cost in 1903 and 1904.
“The method employed is as follows: