CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
81
ARRATOON APCAR DISPENSARY, GARDEN REACH.
THIS is a dispensary which only receives out-door patients. It was established in 1870
by Mr. Seth T. Apcar, who entirely supports it. It is classified as of Class III, Grade 3.
Civil Hospital Assistant Pran Kisto Mookerjee has held charge during the year. The build-
ing is in good repair. The Committee met twice during the year. The number of patients
treated amounted to 12,142, that is to say, 11,321 attended in person and 821 represented by
friends. The average daily attendance was 127.3. It is said that in 1877 only 9,508 cases
were treated, so that there was an increase of 2,634. The closing of the out-door department
of the General Hospital probably accounted for part of these increased numbers. The
commonest diseases are malarious fever, enlarged spleen, bowel-complaints, bronchitis, and
skin diseases. The total cash expenditure for the year amounted to Rs. 1,265. Govern-
ment contributed Rs. 180 as half-pay of the hospital assistant, and also furnished Europe
medicines, which are valued at Rs. 374-7. Mr. Apcar contributed Rs. 900.
The Civil Surgeon visited the dispensary six times during the year.
CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION, WITH WHICH IS AMALGAMATED
THE LADY CANNING HOME.
THROUGH the kindness of Mrs. J. A. Wilson, Honorary Treasurer of the above
institution, I have been supplied with a copy of the report for the year 1878, which is as
follows.
This institution, which has just completed the 19th year of its existence, has from a
very small beginning now attained its object of having one of its nurses in constant attend-
ance on the sick in each ward of the two leading hospitals in Calcutta. The Committee, in
issuing their report for the past year, have the satisfaction to record the testimony of the
Principal of the Medical College and of the Surgeon Superintendent of the General Hospital
to the gradually increasing efficiency to the staff of nurses, to their attention to duty, and
their kindness to the sick.
The leading event of the past year has been the inauguration of the scheme of out-
nursing, to accomplish which was the main object of the amalgamation of the Lady Canning
Home with the Hospital Nurses' Institution.
A new building, adjoining the residence of the lady-nurses and within the precincts
of the General Hospital, has been erected for the accommodation conjointly of the hospital
nurses and of the Canning out-nurses. The building was opened on the 16th December
1878 by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Calcutta, when His Honor the Lieutenant-
Governor of Bengal and other trustees of the Canning Home and Members of Committee
were present.
The Committee of Management have great pleasure in announcing that six nurses are
now available at the General Hospital for out-nursing, under the immediate direction of
the Lady Superintendent of the Canning Home.
In all the arrangements for starting the Canning out-nurses, and in the preparation of
the new quarters for the reception of the hospital nurses, the Committee have the pleasure
to acknowledge the ready assistance afforded by the present Lady Superintendent, Miss Best.
Many applications having been made for out-nurses some time in anticipation of the
formal opening of that department of the institution, the Committee sanctioned these being
granted, so far as the Lady Superintendent was prepared with suitable nurses. From the
experience thus gained, and the now constant demand for the services of the nurses, the
Committee are led confidently to look forward to the out-nursing department becoming
self-supporting. But, in the meantime, it adds considerably to the expenses of the institu-
tion, and any addition to the large sum which has to be collected by the Committee—a sum
amounting to about Rs. 1,100 a month—increases the anxiety of providing sufficient funds;
and the year closed with a small deficit. The Committee, however, venture to hope that the
public, who have so liberally supported this charity during the many years when it has been
limited to providing trained female attendants on the sick within the hospitals, will, by
increased subscriptions, enable the Committee to provide skilled nurses, who will be available
for any ease of sickness among all classes of the community at their homes.
It is earnestly desired to make the out-nursing department a success, as only thus can be
effectually carried out the original aim of the founders of the Lady Canning Memorial.
Applications for out-nurses should be made to the Lady Superintendent; and sub-
scriptions and donations will be thankfully received by the Committee through their
Honorary Treasurer.
G. S. ANDERSON,
Honorary Secretary.