( 2 )
2. The statement showing the race and sex of all the persons treated has
in this report been submitted for the first time in a complete form, the regis
-tration of all out-door patients at the General Hospital having been properly
attended to:—
Race.
Males.
Females.
Children.
Total.
Europeans
...
...
6,415
1,414
1,351
9,180
Eurasians
...
...
11,044
7,741
15,343
34,128
Mahomedans ...
...
60,112
14,252
28,345
102,709
Hindoos
...
...
106,168
22,750
23,914
152,832
Other castes ...
...
3,465
2,919
4,783
11,167
Total
... 187,204
49,076
73,736
310,016
It appears from this statement that 60·38 per cent. of the total number
treated were males, 15·83 per cent, females, and 23·78 per cent. children. The
low proportion of females to males among Hindoo and Mahomedan patients
is explained by the relative smallness of the female population which the
census returns brought to light, and of course to a large extent by the social
customs of these races. It is no doubt less agreeable to the women of all
classes and sects to seek relief at a public dispensary than it is to men.
3. The appended table shows the health of the town and suburbs during
the past nine years, as exhibited in the hospital returns:—
ALL DISEASES.
CHOLERA..
Death-rate, excluding
cholera.
Number of
deaths
r e g i s t e r e d b y t h e m u n i c i p a - l i t y
Rate per
mille of
population.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
Died per
mille.
Treated.
Died.
Died per
mille.
1868
. . .
16,996
3,386
199
1,224
563
461
179
13,736
32
1869
. . .
18,035
3,043
169
1,144
558
487
147
12,795
29·8
1870
. . .
15,816
2,250
142
605
258
426
131
10,462
24·4
1871
. . .
17,325
2,288
132
255
112
439
127
10,299
24
1872
. . .
20,805
2,761
132
448
217
484
125
11,923
27·8
1873
...
18,896
2,706
143
492
264
536
132
11,558
26·9
1874
. . .
20,331
3,197
157
666
339
509
145
12,641
29·4
1875
...
22,806
3,815
167
787
405
515
154
15,069
35
1876
...
*21,832
3,226
147
740
399
539
134
12,964
30·2
* Excluding 534 patients in the Eye Infirmary.
The death-rate per thousand among those treated was 147, including cholera
cases, and 134, excluding them. From this table, it may be gathered that the
public health was exceptionally good in the years 1870-1871, in respect both of
the amount of sickness and of the virulence of disease, and especially of cholera;
and that disease was more successfully treated in the hospitals during the past
year than in either of its immediate predecessors. Dr. Beatson points to
the introduction of the filtered water-supply, and of the improved system of
drainage in 1869-1870, as the causes of the decrease in disease observable at
that time. The cessation of the night-supply of filtered water in April 1872
probably accounts for some of the increase which has since occurred.
4. There were 136 cases of cholera in the shipping in 1876, against 110 in
1875. Dr. Beatson does not support the theory that the prevalence of this disease
on the river-side is principally attributable to the discharge of Fort sewage into
the river, and to emanations from the unembanked foreshore. It is remarkable,
however, that Prinsep's Ghât and the Esplanade, the moorings in which these
causes operate, if they operate at all, still supply the largest number of cases.
Indeed, of 108 cases during the past year, of which the locality was specified, no
less than 71 came from these moorings and from Fort Point. However this
may be, Mr. Eden considers it of the highest importance that the river should
not be the receptacle of the Fort sewage. A Committee met during the past