81
GENERAL HOSPITAL.
and somewhat decentralized constitution of the establishment of cooks and
khitmutgars when supplied, will bring this important department up to a
standard of the greatest perfection attainable.
SANITARY.
33. It has been resolved, after much consideration by His Honor the
Lieutenant-Governor, for the present not to introduce the water closet system
into the hospital. In lieu of this and the plan now in operation, it has been
decided to maintain the dry system within the hospital, and to combine it with
the water-carriage system of the Calcutta municipality as follows:—
Conservancy.
The filth depôt at the north east corner of the hospital compound is to
be brought into direct communication with the main trunk sewer running
along the northern aspect of the hospital. An efficiently trapped pipe has
been devised, along which, when the process will be least objectionable to the
neighbourhood, the night soil will be floated by means of a sufficient body of
water into the main sewer. The works for the introduction of this improve-
ment are now being carried into execution. The nuisance in the hospital and
to the community will thus be reduced to a minimum.
Water system
about to be in-
troduced.
34. I am glad to report that the manuring of the adjacent Presidency Jail
garden by the utilization of night soil has been conducted during the past year
without any nuisance or offence to the inmates of the hospital, confirming the
statement made in my Report for 1871, viz ., that "if the garden be well kept
and care be taken that the night soil manure applied to it does not exceed the
requirements of ordinary horticultural operations, I did not see how it could
become a subject for serious objection." I think, however, as stated in a short
correspondence which took place during the year on this point, that only the
night soil derived from healthy men should be utilized for the manuring of the
garden, inasmuch as among sanitarians there is still considerable doubt regard-
ing the power of the soil in transforming and rendering innocuous the elements
or germs supposed to cause certain very mortal diseases; such for example,
as cholera or typhoid fever, &c.
OUT-DOOR RELIEF.
Presidency Jail
garden.
35. My proposals for the permanent working of an out-patient department
in connexion with the hospital were submitted, in detail, in No. 258 of 21st Octo-
ber 1872. Should the suggestions contained therein receive the sanction of
Government, this much needed department will be opened without delay.
An out-door de-
partment pro-
posed.
MEDICAL SUBORDINATES' QUARTERS.
36. The accommodation set apart for the subordinates has been somewhat
amplified by the appropriation of the rooms formerly occupied by the medical
subordinates of the European regiment garrisoning Fort William consequent
on their transfer to the old Sudder Court building.
THE HOSPITAL LIBRARY.
Medical subordi-
nates' quarters.
37. It is impossible to over-estimate the benefits which accrue to the sick
from this library.
Library.
The library allowance is only Rs. 25 per mensem.
It has hitherto been expended in the purchase, at very low rates, of books
offered for sale by the reading clubs of Calcutta. A late order, herewith
Permission to pur-
chase books from
clubs solicited.
Circular No. 35, dated
21st November 1872.
quoted in the margin, has temporarily put a stop to the prac-
tice; and the only way to keep within the letter and the spirit
W