( 4 )
r e p o r t ; a n d a s r e g a r d s t h e s u g g e s t e d i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e d i e t a r y , n o t i c e d i n
paragraph 31 of the Presidency General Hospital report, the Lieutenant-
Governor has no objection to the Surgeon-General sanctioning a departure from
the strict scale. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to learn that so much
has been done under Dr. Palmer's supervision to improve the library. Acknow-
ledgments are due to the Editors of the Calcutta newspapers and the other
gentlemen who have so kindly contributed to the relief of the sick by the
supply of papers and periodicals.
To Dr. Ewart and his colleagues the Lieutenant-Governor tenders his
thanks for the efficient manner in which they have discharged their duties during
the year. Government and the public are not a little indebted also to the
ladies forming the Committee of the Calcutta Hospital Nurses Institution, with-
out whose aid much suffering would have remained unalleviated from the want
of efficient nurses. The Lieutenant-Governor understands that the arrange-
ments have been completed under which a Home for trained nurses will be at
once built by the Committee of the Lady Canning Memorial Fund, in close
proximity to the General Hospital ; and that it will be ready for the two ladies
who are coming out from England under the Committee's auspices by the
commencement of next year.
7.
Mayo Native Hospital.—The report on this hospital shows that its finances
are in a satisfactory condition. It has now at its credit Rs. 3,95,390-2-4 in
landed and funded property, besides Rs. 1,62,289-0-4 which have been put to the
account of the building fund. The returns appended show that in this
hospital, and in its various dispensaries, no less than 1,503 in-patients and 1,29,925
out-patients were treated. The rate of deaths among in-patients was only 49.3
per thousand treated. Of major surgical operations 14 . 4 per cent, proved fatal.
The Lieutenant-Governor would be glad if the Governors of the hospital would
favour him in future years with somewhat more detailed information regarding
the out-patients, and the dispensaries at which they were treated. This year
they numbered more than half of the whole patients, both in and out, treated at
all the Calcutta Medical Institutions, and it is most desirable that the
returns regarding them should be given in such detail as to allow some test of
their accuracy to be applied.
8.
Campbell Hospital ( Sealdah).— The death-rate at this hospital was 288.7
per thousand,—a painful contrast to the alleged rate prevailing at the Mayo
Hos pi t a l ( 49. 2 ) ; e v e n d e d u c t i n g mo r i b u n d s t h e r a t i o wa s d i s t r e s s i n g l y h i g h .
Dr. Woodford labours under a great difficulty in this respect as long as the
hospital is used as the last refuge of those in the final stages of disease and
suffering. The average number of patients under treatment daily was 295 and
the average time spent by each patient in hospital was 22 days. The cost of
dieting was moderate, being 2 annas 6 pie per head per diem. This hospital has
now been brought under the direct management of Government, with a view to
its forming a school of clinical medicine for the students of the Campbell Medical
School.
9. Police Chowkeedar Hospital.—A great deal has been done to improve
the sanitary condition of this hospital, but much remains to be accomplished,
and the Lieutenant-Governor hopes that the matter may continue to have
the attention of the Municipality. In all, 1,985 patients received treatment at
this institution. The daily average number of sick was 93.08, slightly less than
in the preceding year. The death-rate was only 21.6 per thousand—a surpris-
ingly low figure, had it not to be considered, as the Surgeon General points out,
that many men feeling their health giving way leave the force altogether. The
figures he gives show that the health of the police force, so far as it is possible
to compare them, is better than that of the Native Army ; the admissions to
hospital, the daily number of sick, and the death-rate, all attest this.
10.
These institutions call for no special remarks ; each conferred extensive
S u k e a S t r e e t D i s p e n s a r y .
benefit on the poor in its neighbourhood, especially
North Suburban Hospital.
the North Suburban Hospital, where 682 in-patients
Bhowanipore Dispensary.
were treated.. It is hoed p that the new building for
Alipore Dispensary.
this hospital will soon be completed. The large
Aratoon Apear Dispensary.
and comparatively well-to-do population of Bhowanipore should be urged to do
something towards the attainment of a better building for the dispensary.