GENERAL HOSPITAL.
39
have resulted from a somewhat improved condition of the river-bank and general improve
-
ment in the sanitation of all parts of the town. The diminution in the death-rate has
unquestionably been the result of greater attention being paid to the early removal of the
cases to the hospital, whereby they have been brought under treatment by Drs. Lewis and
Cunningham in greater numbers at a period or stage of the disease when the remedies
employed have a better chance of mitigating its severity. There is, however, still much room
for improvement, both as regards the sanitary condition of the river-bank and the city.
There is much reason to believe that if the whole of the river-side frequented by the
mercantile marine were embanked, so that no muddy material reeking with exhalations of a
deleterious nature could be exposed to the action of a tropical sun, a still further reduction
of admissions from the floating river population would be the immediate effect. But the
full effect would not be pronounced unless the sewers opening into the river were simultaneously
trapped with a view to diminish the back draughts of sewer emanations.
The following statement shows the position in the port and town from which the cases of
cholera treated during 1873 have been derived:—
Esplanade
16
In Hospital
2
Prinsep's Ghât
9
Town (Bentinck Street) Calcutta
1
Hastings Moorings
9
No. 1 Jetty
2
Garden r
2
" 5 Jetty
1
Bankshall
2
Police Ghât
2
Chandpal Ghât
1
Engine House
1
No. 3 Jetty
1
Town Calcutta
1
" 3 Calcutta Moorings
1
Total
63
-
P. and O. Moorings
1
No. 4 Jetty
1
The mortality from cholera to total deaths from all causes has fluctuated from 495·7 and
365·2 in 1866 and 1868, to 172 and 169 . 9 in 1871 and 1873.
Position in the
port and town from
whence cholera
patients were
admitted.
2. Dysentery.
Statement exhibiting the Admissions and Deaths from Dysentery during the nine years
ending 1873.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO oF DEATHS PER MILLE TO
Treated.
Total treated
from all
diseases.
Total deaths.
1865.
272
32
117·6
13·1
188·2
1866
1866
281
32
113·8
13·2
134·4
1867
234
10
42·7
4·2
65·7
1868
243
12
49·3
4·8
67·7
1869
260
17
65·0
6·4
121·4
1870
173
14
80·9
5·4
173·7
1871
138
6
43·4
2·3
64·5
1872
188
8
42·55
2·3
51·2
1873
145
13
89·65
4·8
122·6
Admissions and
deaths from
dysentery during
the years 1865-.73.
During the year under report there have been 145 admissions with 13 deaths, or 89.65
in the thousand. The ratio is a high one, and is accounted for by our having had to deal with
many cases of sloughing and gangrenous dysentery. Such a result is generally preventible by
the timely administration of large doses of ipecacuanha. When, however, this measure has
been delayed too long, extensive destruction of the mucous membrane of the large intestine
frequently takes place, and a fatal termination is, under such circumstances, often unavoidable.
3. Hepatitis.
YEARS.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER MILLE TO
Treated.
Total treated
from all
diseases.
Total deaths.
1865
47
9
191·4
3·4
5 2 · 9
1866
41
7
170·7
2·8
2 9 · 4
1867
51
9
176·4
3 · 7
5 9 · 4
1868
58
6
103·4
2 . 4
3 3 . 8
1869
52
6
1 1 5 · 3
2·2
4 2 8
1870
62
7
1 1 2 9
2·7
5 1 · 8
1871
5 7
5
8 7 · 7
1 · 9
5 3 · 7
1872
1872
4 3
8
1 8 6
2 · 3
5 1 · 2
40
6
1 5 0
2·2
56·6
Admissions and
deaths from
hepatitis during the
years 1865-73.