4 0
REPORT ON THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
There has been a considerable amount of uniformity in admissions with hepatatis
.
During the past year the death-rate was 150 in the thousand.
Admissions and
deaths from
Typhoid fever
during the years
1865-73.
Admissions and
deaths from
remittent fever
during the years
1865-73.
4. Typhoid Fever.
Table exhibiting the Sickness and Mortality from Typhoid Fever during the nine years
ending 1873.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER MILLE To
Treated.
Total treated
from all
diseases.
Total deaths,
1865
..,
.•'
...
...
17
3
176'4
1.2
17'6
1866
...
...
-
...
18
3
166'6
1.1
12'6
1867
...
...
...
...
12
4
333.3
1.6
26'3
1868
...
...
...
.•.
5 '
3
600.0
1'2
16'9
1869
...
...
...
•••
4
3
750.0
U.
214
1870
...
...
... '
.••
14
1
71.4
0.3
7.4
1871
...
...
...
15
5
333.3
1.9
531
1872
...
•••
...
...
17
11
647'0
3.1
70.5
1873
,..
...
...
...
7
3
428'5
1.1
28'3
The prevalence of this disease has been below the average, only seven cases having
been treated with three deaths, or at the rate of 428 . 5 per thousand. Not a single year has
passed. without admissions with typhoid fever, and it has been a steady factor in contributing
to the death-rate of the hospital :-
5. Remittent Fever.
Table exhibiting the Sickness and Mortality from Remittent Fever during the nine years
ending 1873.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER MILLE TO
Treated.
Total treated from
all diseases.
Total deaths.
1865 ...
...
...
...
27
2
74.0
0.8
11'7
1866 ...
...
...
...
43
4
93'0
1.0
16'8
1867 ...
...
...
...
51
23
176'4
3/
59'2
1868 ...
...
...
•••
14
1
71.4
0.4
5'6
1869 ...
...
...
...
21
4
190.4
1.5
26.5
1870 ...
...
...
...
37
5
135.1
1.9
37'0
1871 ......
...
45
6
133.3
2.3
64.5
1872 ...
...
...
...
19
5
263.1
1.4
32'5
1873 ...
...
...
...
22
5
227'2
1.8
47'1
Alemoranda by Dr.
W. J. Palmer on
the fever cases
treated by him.
Thus remittent fever has caused the death of 5 out of 22 patients during the past year,
or 227 .2 per thousand.
In my last year's report I proposed that an officer be placed temporarily at my
disposal for the express purpose of investigating the fevers met with in this hospital.
;
regret much that this suggestion was not adopted, and now beg that it may be favorably
reconsidered. I find that the newly-arrived surgeons do not remain long enough to he
of any real service in a minute and exhaustive inquiry into the nature of the fevers of
Calcutta. What I want to enable me to carry on this investigation, is a medical of f
icer of
some Indian experience, well versed in animal chemistry and the use of the microscope, with
nothing else to do to distract his attention from this special and most important work.
I here submit a memorandum on the fever cases which have come under the observation
of Dr. W. J. Palmer during the past year, which, in a condensed form, shows the great
interest this officer has in endeavouring to promote the investigation of fevers.
MEMORANDA ON THE ANNEXED TABULAR STATEMENTS.
1st.-It should in the first place be remarked that almost all the patients., therein
alluded to were European sailors, who had been but a short time in India, and that only
patients who appear to be suffering from some severe form of sickness are sent to the
hospital, there being in almost all cases a surgeon attending the ship, who treats the mild
forms of disease on the spot.