Death-rates.
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
11
MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL.
11. In the abstract on the margin a summary of the transactions of the different
Statement No. XI.
CLASS OF PATIENTS.
1873.
1872.
In-door patients (medical and surgical)
3,260
3,565
Midwifery ward (in-door)
943
1,063
Eye Infirmary
545
535
5,163
Total
4,748
Out-door patients (medical and surgical)
24,758
24,644
Admission room
845
649
Dispensary for women and children
13,766
11,892
Ophthalmic dispensary
3,742
3,981
Dental dispensary
580
1,047
Total
43,691 42,213
Grand Total
48,439
47,376
Transactions of the
year.
departments of this hospital is
given. Among in-patients there
has been a decrease (excluding eye
eases) of 425, as compared with
1872, but an increase of 315
compared with 1871.
Among out-door patients in
-
crease is shewn, particularly in
the dispensary for women and
children, where 1,874 more cases
have been treated than were
recorded in 1872. In the
ophthalmic and dental dispen
-
saries there is a decrease.
12. Dr. Chevers shows that
though the rate of mortality has
been higher in 1873 than it was
in 1872, yet that it has been
lower than that in any other year
s i n c e 1 8 6 3 .
Attendance
compared with
previous years.
13. In the statement (No. XII) in the margin the death-rate per thousand of the different
classes for the past five years is
given. It will be seen that the
mortality of European males
treated was higher in 1873 than
it has been since 1869; of Euro
-
pean females, higher than that of
1872, but lower than that of
1870 and 1871. The mortality
rates of Eurasians, both male and
female, would appear to have
been lessening since 1869, and to
have been much lower for males
in 1873 than has been the case
in any of the four previous years.
The death-rate of Natives was
higher in 1873 than it was in
1872, nearly the same as in
1871, and decidedly lower than it was in 1869 and 1870. The great mortality among
Natives, as compared with either Europeans or Eurasians, is again most conspicuous.
Eurasians show the lowest death-rate of the three classes. This contrasts somewhat with
the experience of 1872. The nearly equal death-rate of males and females in this class is
also worth remarking.
14. An interesting statement is given in the report (page 22) by which Dr. Chevers shews
that while the prevalence of cholera may have diminished of late years, its deadliness has not,
but on the contrary that it has been much more fatal the last two years than it has been in any
year since 1866; and this has been the case both with Christians and Natives. In his
remarks he cautions us against the possibility of our being disposed to attribute too great
immediate and direct influence to the improved drainage and the new water-supply of the
town, and of our being inclined to overlook other and more general conditions which may
have tended to make the last three years noncholeraic years. It certainly seems difficult to
understand how it is that, if the better drainage and better water-supply and improved
sanitary condition generally of Calcutta, have lessened the number of cases of cholera, the
disease should at the same time assume a more fatal character. In reality I believe the last
three years have been noncholeraic years, and that Howrah and other suburbs of Calcutta,
whose condition. as regards water-supply and drainage remains much as it was in former
years, have enjoyed an almost, if not quite, equal comparative diminution in the amount of
the disease.
15. The total number of surgical operations has been 189. Of these only 163 were
treated to a termination, and of these 163 no less than 49 died, or 300 . 6 per thousand, an
exceptionally high mortality, much higher indeed than has been recorded in any year since
1863. Of these 49 deaths, 13, or 265 5 per thousand, were due to pyæmia and septicæmia;
Statement No. XII.
YEARS.
DEATH-RATE PER 1,000.
Europeans.
East Indians.
Natives.
M.
F.
C.
M.
F.
C.
M.
F.
C.
1869
76·26
36·49
. . .
97·48 84·28 ...
260·07 239·24
...
1870
70·11 42·01
...
79·92 55·24 ...
210·11 185·18
. . .
1871
45·51
45·87 ...
57·3 50·8 ...
190·54 176·01
. . .
1872
53·2
1 2
· 7
40
79·6 41·1 107·7 177·9
149·5
161·7
1873
70·31 39·68
...
47·76 44·44 ...
192·95 169·25
. .
Death-rate
according to sex
and classes.
Cholera.
Surgical operations.