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6. Presidency Generale Hospital.— Dr. Ewart has submitted an interesting
report, accompanied by elaborate statistics, which attests the intelligent
interest he takes in the working of the institution under his charge.
It shows that the total number of persons treated was 2,723, or some 720
less than in 1872, which was marked by the prevalence of dengue fever. There
were 106 deaths only, including 18 fatal cases of cholera, out of 53 treated.
The death-rate was 38.9 per thousand, which is very considerably below the
average (60.46) of eight preceding years. The daily average of sick in
hospital was 163.89. The number of days for which, on an average, each patient
was detained in hospital was 21.9 against 19.3 in the previous year. This
would indicate a slight increase in the severity of the diseases treated. In the
case of cholera, however, the death-rate was unusually low, being only 339.6
per thousand, or less than in any of the eight previous years. Most of the cases
were received from the shipping or from near the river. Dr. Ewart would
seem to attribute their occurrence to the unsanitary condition of the river
bank, though admitting that much has been done of late years, and that much
is being done to improve this. When the town sewers have been completed, their
mouths are so trapped that nothing can pass out of them into the river. The
works in the northern part of the town are being rapidly pressed to completion,
and this done, it is hoped beneficial results will follow. The question of
conservancy in the Fort is the subject of a separate correspondence, and it has
been determined to institute a series of observations for the purpose of deter-
mining whether the system adopted there has any effect on the health of the
shipping. One remedy which is pressed upon Government is the construc-
tion of an embankment along the whole face of the Hooghly. The Lieutenant-
Governor would remind the medical authorities that this very measure is being
carried out by the Port Commissioners. The completion of this work will
occupy time, but the progress is constant and satisfactory. Meanwhile the
medical reports shew that rigorous conservancy is needed all along the bank.
The appointment of a Port Surgeon to supervise the sanitary condition
of the river and of its banks, and to watch the outbreak of disease among
the large floating population in the Port, is under the Lieutenant-Governor's
consideration.
There are few parts of Calcutta—to all appearance at least—more insalubrious
than some of the "bustees" or collections of huts adjoining the General Hospital
yet the major surgical operations performed there last year were uniformly
successful,—a just subject for congratulation to Dr. Ewart and his colleagues. It
is still more a subject for rejoicing that operations had to be performed in
seventeen cases only.
The memoranda which Dr. W. J . Palmer has furnished on the cases of
fever treated by him are very valuable. Dr. Ewart renews the application
made by him in 1872 for the appointment of an officer for the express purpose
of investigating the nature of the different forms of fever admitted to the
General Hospital. With the able staff already at his disposal, the Lieutenant-
Governor concurs with the Surgeon-General in thinking that it is not necessary
to depute any special officer for the purpose of making these observations. An
officer has already been appointed to the duty of making a special scientific
inquiry into the nature and causes of Burdwan fever. Till the results of
his work are seen, it will be sufficient that Dr. Ewart should use the means
at his disposal, and they are ample, for the purpose of collecting, under his
own supervision, the materials for any further independent inquiries which it
may eventually be determined to set on foot.
The Lieutenant-Governor is pleased to learn that Mrs. Hickey, the Matron,
has given such satisfaction in the performance of her duties, some of them
self-imposed. He has no objection to the grant to her of a diploma in
midwifery, but he would prefer were this to be done through the Council of the
Medical College.
The sanitary and dieting arrangements, and the plan adopted for the
distribution of work among the officers attached to the hospital, appear to be
highly satisfactory. It will be desirable that a special representation be made
to the local authorities regarding the open drain to the north of the quarters
occupied by the medical subordinates, referred to in page 46 of Dr. Ewart's