Cholera.
Christian patients.
Cholera,
dysentery, and
diarrhoea amongst
native patients.
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
13
5. Of the 3,915 patients treated 1,673 were Christians (Europeans 768,Eurasians
905).
Ninety-nine Christians died, or at the rate of 59 .17 per mile. This rate of mortality
is slightly lower than it was in 1873 and 1874.
6. There were 2,242 natives treated, of whom 499 died, or at the rate of 222 .56 per
mille of total treated. This mortality is considerably higher than it has been in any of the
five preceding years. This increase of mortality is, in Dr. Chevers' opinion, partly attributable
to the fact that during eight weeks in the very unhealthy months of August, September,
and October the admission to the Sealdah Hospital of incurable applicants was forbidden.
7. The following table shows the numbers treated, the deaths, and the rate of mortality
per mille of total treated of Christian patients from some of the more common diseases :—
DISEASES.
Treated.
Died.
Rate of mortality
per mille of total
treated.
Smell-pox
..,
...
"S
...
...
0'00
M easles
...
...
...
...
...
0'00
Typhus fever
...
...
...
...
1
1
1000'00
Typhoid „
...
...
...
...
4
1
260'00
Ague
...
.04
...
281
1
3.55
Febricula
...
...
...
1
...
0'00
Remittent fever
..
...
6.
35
5
142'85
Cholera
...
...
...
...
36
17
472'22
Dysentery
...
75
8
106'66
Diarrhoea
...
...
•.•
61
3
49'18
It will be observed from the above table that out of 328 cases of specific fevers there were
8 deaths, or with a rate of 24 .38 per mille.
8. Amongst natives, the admissions, deaths, and death-rates from some of the diseases
more commonly met with, were as follow :—
•
DISEASES.
Treated.
Died.
Rate of mortality
per mille of total
treated.
Small-pox
.$
...
...
...
3
...
0'00
Typhoid fever
...
...
...
..,
2
1
500'00
Ague
...
...
...
304
43
141'44
Remittent fever
...
...
.$
90
34
377'77
Total
...
____
399
_
78
......nnn•
195'48
Total number
treated and
mortality of
Christian patients.
Mortality of
natives.
Statistics of
various diseases
occurring amongst
Christians.
Statistics of some
diseases amongst
natives.
As, however, 20 patients were admitted in a moribund condition, viz. typhoid fever 1,
ague 2, and remittent fever 17, if we exclude them from the returns the death-rates would
be—
Enteric fever
...
...
...
...
...
,..
00'000
Ag ue
...
*Of
...
...
O.
...
131'86
Remittent fever
...
.0
...
...
...
...
188 88
and the rate per mile of total specific fevers treated would be 152.23.
But even still, while excluding the moribund cases, the deaths from these fevers (from
ague particularly) are at a very high rate, and the causes assigned by Dr. Chevers as to the
high rate of mortality among natives from the prevailing diseases may perhaps be accepted
as a sufficient explanation of the fact. He says—" These diseases, as they prevail in and near
Calcutta, kill more of the natives than of the Christians attacked. Extreme poverty
(chronic starvation) is the normal condition of the native sick admitted to this hospital,
especially to the medical wards ; but few of our Christian sick appear to have suffered from
absolute want. The Christian generally comes to hospital for relief as soon as possible ; the
native for the most part comes reluctantly."
9. The number (36) of Christians admitted with cholera was less than in the years
1874, 1873, but the death-rate (472 .22) has been higher than that of any year since 1865,
with the exception of 1872 and 1873.
10. The number of natives treated for cholera was greater than that of any year
since 1871, and the death-rate has been higher than in any year since 1866, with the excep-
tion of 1R72.
Treated.
Died.
Rate per mills of
total treated.
Cholera
...
•• 0
...
...
156
94
602'56
Dysentery
...
.••
138
58
420.28
Diarrhoe
... ...
...
...
61
8
131'14
The year 1875 was marked by a very unusual prevalence of cholera during the cold
weather months. The outbreak appears to have commenced on 7th November, between which
date and the last day of December 36 cases were admitted, of which 22 proved fatal ; and
it is remarkable, Dr. Chevers observes, that of those admitted only one appears to have been
of pure European parentage,—one of the hospital apprentices, a lad born in India.