Visitors.
Apothecary.
Building.
Dieting.
Establishment.
60
REPORT ON THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
The force is numerically equal to four regiments of native infantry of H. M 's Indian
Army, to which it has been likened, but without sufficient reason, inasmuch as the sepoy is
under strict military discipline, and can be severely dealt with for breaking any of the hospital
rules, such as receiving or bringing in objectionable edibles, smoking in the wards,* or
defiling the premises; whereas the police surgeon has no such powers, or a conjee-house under
a guard at his disposal to place refractory patients, which is necessary for the efficient
discipline of such an hospital, as the majority of the police chowkedars are of the sepoy caste,
and many of them have been sepoys. The police force has ordinarily more trying duties
to perform than the sepoy; their daily average of duty being from 8 to 10 hours, and they are
exposed to all the changes of climate and season, which accounts for the large number of
recruits annually required to replace those who have resigned.
Building.—Since the building was thoroughly repaired, the street drainage completed,
and the municipal water laid on, there has been some improvement in the sanitary condition
of the hospital; but the native houses and latrines, which form the north and western
boundaries of the hospital premises, still pour out their noxious gases, and require proper
d r a i n a g e .
Rs. A. P.
Dieting.—The cost of dieting per head per mensem, inclusive
of extras, is
6 7 10
Ditto ditto
per diem
0 3 4
The total cost of each sick police chowkedar, inclusive of the
establishment pay, contingent expenses, and bazaar
medicines, per mensem, is
11 10 8
Ditto ditto ditto.p
er diem
0 6 0
Rum, milk, and extras, require to be dealt out at times with no sparing hand in
impoverished and debilitated constitutions, as shown in the last annual report; especially to
men from the North-West Provinces, who form three-fourths of the Calcutta and suburban
police forces, as they live chiefly on gram with the object of saving money to send to their
homes. The consequence is they are insufficiently fed, and fall ready victims to disease,
having no resilience of constitution to battle with sickness.
Establishment.—It is unfortunate that the increased establishment so often solicited has
again to be deferred and cannot be entertained or estimated for before the next budget. The
same regret applies to a second brick-built latrine with water-supply, a dispensary,
drainage of the premises, and lighting of the wards by gas; but a gate to the south end or
entrance to the hospital may fairly be expected, and is necessary to hospital discipline.
Visitors.—The hospital has been visited during the year by the commissioner of police,
the deputy surgeon-general, and the deputy commissioner of police.
Mr. Apothecary McCormick has devoted himself to his duties with the same zealous
care as in past years.
C. 0. WOODFORD, M.D., F.R.C.S., LONDON,
Police Surgeon.
Calcutta, 1st January 1874.
APPENDIX B.
CHOLERA RETURN.
Town.
Suburban.
Reserve Force
...
...
6
Watgunge
...
...
2
Jorasanko
. . .
...
2
Beneapooker
...
...
2
M o o c h e e p a r
. . .
...
1
Bhowanipore
. . .
...
... 2
Puddopooker
...
...
1
Eutally
...
...
2
Sampooke
. . . ...
. 1
Manictolla
. . .
...
1
B u r t o l l a
...
...
1
The River Police
...
...
5
.
Total
12†
Total
1 4 †
* It i s usel ess t o forbi d smoki ng i n t he hospi t al wards wi t hout t he powers t o enforce i t .
† Died 6.
‡
D i e d 5 .