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the Surgeon-General in preparing his general statement of important operations
performed in all the Calcutta medical institutions, it appears that the death
-rates per cent. in the Medical College Hospital were 11.08 in 1876, 8.3 in 1877,
and 4.7 in 1878, as compared with corresponding death-rates of 11.06, 8.4, and
7.09 in all the Calcutta hospitals in the same three years. These figures appear
to the Lieutenant-Governor to show conclusively that the want of success in the
treatment of surgical cases in former years was mainly due to causes other
than the faulty construction of the building; the recent statistics when
analysed entirely refute the conclusions that have been drawn from the
returns of 1876 and previous years, and confirm the views recently adopted
by Government as to the erroneous nature of the conclusions which had been
drawn from the earlier surgical mortality, and as to the destructive character
of the policy based upon them. The number of out-door patients who
attended the dispensaries was higher even than in the previous year,
there being 48,986 cases treated, against 47,506 in 1877. In the surgical
dispensary 6,197 operations were performed as compared with 5,585, 3,617,
2,705, and 1,476 in the preceding four years. This steady rise, with a
corresponding increase in the number of patients attending the surgical dis-
pensary, is the best test of the increasing success and popularity of the institu
-tion. There were 5,964 new patients at the ophthalmic dispensary against 5,464
in 1877; and the average daily attendance was 83.42.
11. General Hospital.— The number of in-patients admitted during the
year was 4,164, against an average for the previous ten years of 2,987. Out of
the 4,280 patients treated, 66 per cent. were seamen, the proportion having
increased steadily since 1873, when it was 45 per cent. The number of
Europeans was 4,164 and of natives only 116, as compared with 4,613 and 531
respectively in 1877. There were 40 cases of cholera treated in the hospital
against 73 in 1877, and an average of 76 for the previous ten years. The
mortality was, however, 75 per cent. of the total number of cases, most of the
patients having been admitted in an advanced state of collapse. Only three
of the 40 cases were from the general European and Eurasian community,
the remaining 37 cases being from the shipping. The financial returns of the
hospital for the past year are very satisfactory. Under every head of expenditure
except 'Taxes' there was a decrease much in excess of the decrease of 16 per
cent. in the number of in-patients. Under the head of diet alone there
was a decrease of Rs. 20,179 on the expenditure of 1877, and this was
accompanied by a decrease in the mortality from 4.43 to 3.55 per cent. of
those treated. The receipts from paying patients were Rs. 7,094, or more than
twice the sum received in 1877. The contribution from the Hospital Port
Dues Fund was Rs. 47,485, against Rs. 24,711 in 1877; but the amount received
on this account was still less by Rs. 32,335 than the sum actually expended
for the maintenance and treatment of seamen.
12.
Campbell Hospital.—The number of admissions was 10,604, against
6,004 in 1877 and 6,279 in 1876; the daily average number sick was
414.08, against 343.16 and 365.41 in the two preceding years. Small-pox
prevailed to some extent during the whole year and assumed an epidemic form
from February to June. Of the 295 cases admitted, 262 were Natives and
33 Europeans and Eurasians; among the former there were 124 and among
the latter 11 deaths. During the last three and a half months of the year the
average daily number of inmates was 519.31, or more than fifty in excess of
the number for which there is proper accommodation. A temporary shed was
built last year for small-pox patients, and the Lieutenant-Governor hopes that
it will soon be possible to permanently increase the accommodation of the
hospital. The total expenditure for diet during 1878 was Rs. 22,575 for a
daily average of 414 patients, against Rs. 20,306 for a daily average of only 343
in 1877, and this was notwithstanding that the price of rice was much higher
last year than in 1877. The expenditure on extras and stimulants fell
from Rs. 11,043 in 1877 to Rs. 1,302 in 1878. Extras and stimulants were,
the Lieutenant-Governor understands, given in every case in which they were
considered necessary, and the sole cause for the great decrease in expenditure
was the careful supervision exercised by Dr. Mackenzie and the teachers.
The figures given in the report show that the mortality among the patients has
been in no way increased by the careful and economical administration of the