16
REPORT ON THE
show an increase of 3,607 over the returns of 1876, which is accounted for by
1,416 more patients in the medical and 2,191 in the surgical out-door
d e p a r t - m e n t . T h e n u m b e r o f p a t i e n t s w h o a t t e n d e d t h e o u t - d o o r d i s p e n s a r i e s
in the preceding five years was 18,537, 18,833, 21,889, 24,758, and 24,644.
In addition to the above out door patients treated in these dispensaries, 1,027
cases were treated in the admission room, and 2,096 patients of a slightly better
class were prescribed for by the Resident Physician and Surgeon in the consult
-ing room.
The Resident Surgeon performed 5,585 minor operations, which shows
an increase of 1,968 over 1876. The numbers of minor operations performed
in the six preceding years were 3,617, 2,705, 1,476, 1,553, 1,301, and 1,348
respectively. Comparing these figures with the numbers of patients who have
attended the surgical dispansary during the same period, it will be seen that
the increase in the number of operations is out of proportion to the increase
in the number of patients. The explanation of this is that the dispensary
is now a purely surgical one, much greater care having been taken of later years
than formerly to exclude all cases not surgical in the strictest sense of the term.
The Resident Surgeon has also endeavoured during the past four years
to exclude from the benefits of the dispensary, all patients able to pay for
advice, or who were at the same time attending other dispensaries. It is a
common practice here, just as it is at home, for well-to-do persons to try
to get an opinion gratis in the out-door departments of our large hospitals,
and it is also very common to find in Calcutta, as in London and other
large towns in England, patients who are attending the out-door department
of one institution, seeking opinions and medicine at the same time in the
out-door departments of other institutions. Both these evils have now been
pretty completely checked, and though their suppression for a time tended to
diminish the numbers attending the dispensary, there is no doubt it will ulti-
mately increase its popularity.
Dental Dispensary.
Dental
dispensary.
Total dispensary
practice.
There were 3,954 patients treated during the year under report, against
3,442, 1,828, 850, 1,047, 1,184, and 4,542 during the six previous years.
The number of operations performed was 3,534.
Total Dispensary Practice.
The following table shows the relief rendered to out-door patients during
the past five years :—
Years.
Number of cases
treated.
1873
...
...
...
...
...
...
43,961
187 4
...
...
.
... ... ... ...
45,186
1 8 7 5
..
... ... ... .... .. ...
45,270
187 6
...
. ..
. . .
... ... ... ...
44,556
187 7
...
. . .
...
. .
... ...
.
. . .
...
...
47,506
In addition to the above, the following persons received diet in the hospital
as attendants on the sick during the year :—
European females
...
...
. . .
... ...
... ...
27
East Indian males
...
...
...
...
...
3
Ditto
females
. . . . . .
. . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . .
..
.
93
Mahomedan males
...
...
...
.
.
.
...
2
Ditto
female
. . . . .
...
. . .
...
...
12
Ditto
children
.•.
...
...
. . .
2
Hindu males
...
. . .
...
. . .
...
5
,
females
...
...
. . .
. . .
14
Other castes female
...
...
...
37
Ditto children
...
...
. . .
..•
...
1
Total
...
196
Our hospital staff has worked well and the nurses have done admirable
service.
Gas has been introduced instead of oil lights.
The engine which pumped water having been worn out, new arrange-
meats for a water-supply have been made and are in progress.