10
REPORT ON THE
Defects in the
14. It may be well here to call attention to the defects in the various
several hospitals. hospitals which have been brought to notice by the medical officers in charge.
Medical College. In the Medical College Hospital a separate ward for contagious diseases removed
from the main building is much wanted, as also a new out-door dispensary ; but
this latter want will soon be supplied through the liberality of the late Baboo
Chonee Lal Seal who left money for the purpose. Better quarters for the
nurses are being provided. The latrines in this hospital are very objectionable,
Presidency
and seem to me to demand speedy attention. In the Presidency General
General Hospital. Hospital the latrines are likewise very unsuitable, and are, I consider, a source
of danger to the patients. Better lavatories are also needed. Quarters for
nurses are in course of erection. A separate ward for children is a desideratum,
and Dr. Raye has proposed that the quarters now occupied by nurses should,
when no longer wanted, be made available for children. The quarters of the
medical subordinates are exceedingly bad, and their condition has apparently
Campbell
very frequently been brought to notice. The roof of the Campbell Hospital
Hospital. is much in need of repair. In the rains it leaks all over, and according to
estimate it will require Rs. 16,000 to make the roof water-tight. It would be
an immense advantage if this hospital could be thoroughly walled in. At
present, there are several paths through the grounds so that thefts are more
easy. There are also some minor defects of drainage to which the attention
of the Public Works Department has been called by Dr. Mackenzie. If the
Howrah General native ward of the Howrah General Hospital could be given up for Europeans
Hospital.
and other accommodation found for natives, this would be of great advantage.
Sometime ago it was proposed to give part of the old jail for a native ward,
but I have not heard what has been done in this matter, though I believe
a part of the money required has been got together.
Calcutta Nurses'
15. In the summary of reports which follow will be found in extenso the
Institution.
report of the Calcutta Nurses' Institution for the year 1877, and it will be
noticed that Dr. Raye in his report of the General Hospital speaks favourably
of the assistance they have been of in that institution, especially in the cholera
wards. Dr. Coates also writes as follows " our hospital staff has worked well
and the nurses have done admirable service."
Remarks on
16. I beg to invite attention to Dr. Mackenzie's remarks in which he
pecuniary aid
asks for pecuniary aid for the Campbell Hospital from the suburban munici-
from suburban
mun icipalities. pality which send their sick freely to this hospital yet do not contribute to its
funds. It seems to me that he has made out a case which would justify the
demand for some consideration from this municipality. In like manner as
cases of small-pox occurring among the shipping are never refused, it does not
seem unreasonable to propose that the hospital should receive a contribution
from the Port Dues Hospital Fund. Then, in reference to the Howrah
General Hospital, native sick are received there in whatever stage of disease
they may be, chiefly from the suburbs. It is surely not,too much to ask that
i n r e t u r n
t h e S u b u r b a n M u n i c i p a l i t y s h o u l d a t l e a s t r e m i t t h e h o u s e - t a x n o w
charged on the hospital. Were there no hospital, the Commissioners would be
compelled to arrange for the treatment of their sick poor elsewhere.
Mixed cinchona. 17. Assistant Surgeon Ram Chunder Sen, of the Bhowanipore Dispensary,
records his opinion regarding Mixed Cinchona Alkaloids as a remedy for
periodic fevers. It appears that he does not approve of the remedy. Dr.
French, however, has formed a different opinion, and so it will be observed have
Dr. Raye, of the General Hospital, Mr. Pilcher, of Howrah, and in fact the
general opinion of most medical men who have made trial of the remedy, is so
much in its favour that it is hardly worth while to notice observations which
have probably been made on hasty generalization or imperfect trials. The
introduction of the Rungbee Febrifuge has been a most fortunate circumstance
for Government, as it has so greatly curtailed the expenditure of the expensive
sulphate of quinine. The only fear is that the supply may fall short, as it is
understood that the present process does not thoroughly extract the bark of its
ingredients. Machinery is wanted in order to do this more thoroughly. I beg
to call attention to the remarks of Mr. Pilcher regarding Ixora, a new remedy
for dysentery introduced by Assistant Surgeon Amirto Lall Deb.
Remarks on
18. Mr. Pilcher suggests that compounders should be regularly trained to
compounders.
their duties, and put in a better position as regards pay and pension. This