72
REPORT ON THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
Sickness and
mortality from
remittent fever
during the past 10
years.
Tabular Statement shewing the Sickness and Mortality from Remittent Fever during the ten years
ending 1873.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER MILLE TO
Treated.
Total treated from
all causes.
Total
deaths.
E.
N.
E.
N.
E.
N.
E.
N.
E.
N .
1864
39
36
6
2
153·84
55·55
9·23
2·24
113·20
2 3 · 8 0
1865
48
27
2
6
41·61
222·22
2·57
8·69
37·71
50
1866
18
4
5
4
277·77
1,000
6
6·86
84·74
101·23
1867
3 0
8
9
5
300
625
14·19
11·52
204·54
75·75
1868
36
11
8
9
222·22
818·18
11·52
18·25
166·66
93·75
1869
23
64
2
14
86·95
218·75
2·32
25·31
46·51
184·21
1870
6
14
3
3
500
214·23
4·46
5·78
90·90
50
1871
3
13
3
6
100
261·53
5·40
10·03
81·08
83·23
1872
8
28
. . . . . .
8
...... 400
. . . . . .
1 3 · 6 7
. . . . . .
70·19
1873
46
47
6
13
133·33
302·32
9·02
1 5 · 7 0
2 2 2 · 2 2
56·08
Admissions and
deaths from
dysentery during
the 10 years
ending 1873.
Remittent fever has been very fatal in the past year. This disease is most frequently
met with in the fall of the year, and in the last fall it is to be remarked that while the disease
was fatal, cholera almost failed to shew itself. It frequently happens that when cholera is
prevalent, fatal fever is comparatively scarce ; and it would almost appear as though these two
diseased conditions were related to each other in an inverse proportion.
In the return for 1872 it appears that not one European patient died from remittent
fever. This is probably to be explained by the deaths being attributed to the complications
which often occur in the progress of remittent fever, such, for instance, as pneumonia, diarrhœa,
and cerebral affections. It is not always easy to say whether the organic affection or the fever
causes death, and the result is described according to the prejudices and settled notions of him
who judges.
Tabular Statement showing the Admissions and Deaths from Dysentery during the 10 years
ending 1873.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER MILLE TO
Treated.
Total treated from
all causes.
Total deaths.
E.
N.
E.
N.
E.
N.
E.
N.
E.
N.
1864.
59
59
11
8
186·44
1 3 5 · 5 9
16·92
8·99
207·54
95·23
1865
89
56
15
18
168·53
321·50
19·30
26·08
233·01
150
1866
85
103
3
14
35·29
135·92
3·60
24·01
50·84
144·32
1867
77
71
10
14
129·87
197·18
15·77
.32·25
227·27
219·12
1868.
88
61
4
16
45·45
262·29
5·76
32·45
83·33
166·66
1869.
70
107
9
28
128·57
261·68
10·47
58·13
208·83
368·42
1870
3 4
53
1
15
294·71
283·01
1·48
29·90
30·30
250
1871
2 1
85
2
16
95·23
188·23
3·60
26·75
54·05
235·29
1872
2 1
83
2
27
95·23
325·30
4·21
46·75
61·96
236· 84
1873.
34
196
1
106
28·57
540·81
1·50
128·01
37·03
460·86
Dysentery, it appears from the above table, has prevailed among Europeans much more
in some years than in others. It also appears that the violence of its type has varied
much in different years : thus in 1867, out of 77 treated, 10 died, while in the present year,
out of 34 treated, only one died. The treatment of the disease in all the years has, however,
been the same, viz. the ipecacuanha treatment in the manner recommended by Surgeo
n
Docker.
The mortality from dysentery amongst Natives has been very large in all the years.
I n
the past year, as shown in the table, it has been prominently so. This is owing to the
moribunds having been included with the others.
Midwifery.
Midwifery. —Sixteen European women were confined in the hospital during the year,
and no Native women. It has not yet been found practicable to begin the education of dhais
as midwives. European women in many instances object to be handled by dhais, and the
cases of parturition amongst Natives are too few to be of much value for educational purpose
s .
When the new Native wards are finished, it may be found possible to do something in the
matter ; in the meantime the question is being kept in view.
Surgical
o p e r a t i o n s .
Surgery. —Twenty-eight major operations and 563 minor operations were performed during
the year. The major operations included excision of scrotal tumours, amputations, ligature o f
artery for false aneurism at the bend of the elbow, paracentesis abdomenis, paracentesis vesical,
excision of a barbed fish spear from among the vessels and nerves in the hollow of the elbow
-
joint, and operation for stricture and tracheotomy.