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8. Medical College Hospital.—This institution had the advantage of the
experience and supervision of Dr. Chevers throughout the year. Of the 3,915
in-door patients treated, exclusive of the inmates of the Eye Infirmary, 1,673
were Europeans and Eurasians, and 2,242 were natives. The number treated,
both of out-door and in-door patients, was slightly in excess of that of the
previous year. The high rate of mortality among native patients, as compared
with that which prevailed among Christians, was still more marked than in the
previous year, the death-rate being 222 and 59 per thousand respectively,
This heavy mortality among natives, which is particularly observable in cases
of ague and intermittent fever, is attributed by Dr. Chevers to the number of
incurable cases received, which could not be admitted in the Sealdah Hospital,
as above noticed, and to the low state of vitality among many of the sufferers
owing to their extreme poverty. It is observed that the falling off in the
attendance at the Medical and Surgical dispensaries, which was noticed in the
report for 1874, was still more marked during the past year. The decrease
amounted in the Medical dispensary to 422 persons, and in the Surgical to 2,644,
but no explanation has been offered on. the point. On the other hand, it is
observed that there was an increased attendance of patients at the Ophthalmic
and Dental dispensaries and at the dispensary for women and children. The
death-rate among patients after operations was 260.50 per thousand, as against
235.29 during the previous year. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad, however,
to observe that this increased rate is not attributable to hospitalism or
septi-cœmia, as only eight deaths of the thirty-one which occurred were attributable
to this cause, as against ten during the previous year. The number also is
considerably below the average of the six previous years.
9. Presidency General Hospital.— There has been a very large increase
in the number of patients treated in this institution during the past year,
the total number being 12,778, as against 3,933 during the previous year.
The number of European patients received into the hospital was 2,905, as
against 2,437 in 1874. In the absence of any epidemic, such as the dengue
fever of 1872, this circumstance is satisfactory. Dr. Ewart reports that the
number of applicants is still in excess of the accommodation available, and that
the question of relieving the women's ward by providing separate quarters for
the nurses is under consideration. Although this hospital has generally
been free from septic disease, an outbreak of erysipelas occurred; but
the Lieutenant-Governor is glad to learn that Dr. Ewart was able
to arrest the spread of this disease by segregating the affected patients from
the other surgical cases, and that no fatal case can be traced to this cause.
The death-rate among the in-door patients has increased from 45.95 to 58.17
per thousand, and is attributable to the heavy mortality among the cholera
patients, which accounts for one-third of the mortality. It is noticeable
that while Europeans appear to resist other diseases better than natives, a
much larger proportion of Europeans than natives succumbed to cholera.
The large increase in the attendance of patients at the out-door dispensary
affords satisfaction, and attests the increasing popularity of the institution. The
Lieutenant-Governor will be glad to consider any application which Dr. Ewart
may have to make for the removal of the present condemned quarters of the
hospital subordinates. The improvements which have been effected in the
drainage and lavatory arrangements, and in the external appearance of the
hospital, have elicited much favorable comment, and the manner in which
they have been carried out reflects much credit on Dr. Ewart and his
assistants Drs. Raye and Mackenzie.
10. Campbell Hospital.—The number of admissions to this hospital again
shows an increase. Of the total number of patients treated, viz. 7,782, 203 were
Eurasians and 7,579 natives; 5,178 were cured or relieved, 58 were transferred to
the Lunatic Asylum, and 2,185 died. The very high rate of mortality has
already been commented upon. Referring to the heavy mortality among the
patients after operations, which amounted to 285.71 per thousand, Dr. Woodford