CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
13
confined, 24 were Europeans, 80 Indo-Europeans, and 160 natives. There were 227 children
treated in these wards : of these 42 died.
Ophthalmic in-patients.—In the ophthalmic hospital 546 in-patients were treated, against
536, 534, 590, 545, 535, and 507 in the six preceding years. The number of cases cured
was 275, relieved 129, making a total of 404, who were materially benefited by treatment.
Dispensary for women and children. —The number of women and children who came for
relief was 14,636, against 14,309, 13,703, 15,463, 15,217, 13,766, and 11,892 in the six
preceding years. The minor operations performed were 341, against 440, 440, 361, 390,
421, and 512 in the six preceding years.
Ophthalmic dispensary. —In the ophthalmic dispensary there were 3,757 males, 1,205
females, and 1,002 children treated, or a total number of 5,964 new patients.
The daily average attendance at this dispensary was 83.42 persons.
The following table shows the relief rendered by this dispensary during the past
si x year s: —
1873
...
...
.... 3,742
1874
...
...
... 5,288
1875
...
...
... 5,968
1876
...
...
... 6,159
1877
...
...
„, 5,464
1878
...
...
... 5,964
DISPENSARY PRACTICE.
Medical and surgical out-door dispensaries. —Twenty-four thousand three hundred and
thirty-one new cases were treated in these two dispensaries during the year, 12,238 in the
medical and 12,093 in the surgical. This shews an increase of 2,187 over the preceding
year, which is accounted for by 506 more patients in the medical and 1,681 in the surgical
out-door department. In addition to the above, 1,835 patients were treated in the admission-
room and 1,537 of a less indigent class were prescribed for by the Resident Physician and
Surgeon in the consulting-room of the hospital, making a total of 27,083 new cases treated.
The Resident Surgeon performed 6,197 operations in the surgical dispensary. This
shows an increase of 612 over 1877. The numbers of operations performed during the last
five years are as follow :—
1874
...
...
...
...
...
...
1,476
1875
...
...
...
...
...
...
2,705
1876
...
...
...
...
... ...
3,617
1877
...
...
...
...
...
...
5,585
1878
...
...
...
... ...
...
6,197
This shews a steady rise every year for the last five years, which corresponds with a
steady increase in the number of patients attending the surgical dispensary. During the
past year chloroform was administered, on an average, six or eight times every morning
by students under the immediate direction and supervision of the Resident Surgeon. There
is no doubt that this increasing popularity of the surgical dispensary is largely due to the
fact that chloroform is given in the slightest operations, in every case indeed where the
patient expresses a desire to have it.
In the surgical dispensary the only expensive medicines, excluding dressings, which
have been used since 1874 are quinine and chloroform. With regard to the quinine, the
expenditure has always been kept at a minimum by the simple plan of never allowing the
patients to take any away with them. The dose that was thought necessary has always
since 1874 been administered in the presence of the Resident Surgeon. Since June 1877
the cinchona alkaloids have been used to the entire exclusion of quinine, and the same
plan of having it administered in the presence of the Resident Surgeon is still pursued. I
consider that much credit is due to Drs. McConnell and Lawrie for the manner in which the
medical and surgical dispensaries have been worked. The increase in the number of
patients attending is, I believe, to a great degree due to the careful way in which they
perform their duties. Indeed, I feel it to be my duty to say that the energy and zeal of
these two officers in all matters connected with the hospital is worthy of the greatest praise.
Dental dispensary. —The following statistics of the dental department have been received
from Mr. W. T. Woods, Lecturer on Dentistry to the Medical College. These figures refer to
the working of this department only since he assumed charge, i.e. from 30th August to
31st December 1878. I find that the late Mr. Clerk failed to submit the returns of this
department during the first eight months of the year ; and although I have written to his
representatives asking for these, I have not received any reply, so that I am unable to furnish
these statistics for more than four months.
Extraction
...
...
...
...
...
...
292
Stoppings
...
...
...
...
...
...
65
Treatment
...
...
...
...
...
...
161
Advice cases
...
...
...
...
...
...
31
Total ...
549