CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
19
From the above it will be seen that this disease was present during the whole year;
that it was most prevalent during the months of February, March, and April, when
the admissions were 14, 17, and 25 cases. The smallest number of cases were admitted
during May, when only one was brought to hospital. Of the 117 patients admitted during
the year with this disease, 78 or 66.66 per cent. died.
Operations .—The following statements show the number of major and minor operations
performed during the last two years and the result:—
Major operations.
Minor operations.
Year.
R e m a i n e d 1 s t J a n u a r y 1 8 7 8 .
O p e r a t e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r .
Cured.
R e l i e v e d .
Di s c h a r g e d o t h e r wi s e .
Died.
R e m a i n i n b 3 1 s t D e c e m b e r 1 8 7 8 .
Year.
Ewmai ned 1st January 1878.
O p e r a t e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r .
Cured.
R e l i e v e d .
Di s c h a r g e d o t h e r wi s e .
Died.
R e m a i n i n g 3 1 s t D e c e m b e r 1 8 7 8 .
1878
3
35
22
......
1
9
6
1878
. . .
158
102
7
9
13
27
1877
2
17
15
............
1
3
1877
1
17
17 ...... ......
1
...
Increase
...
18
7
......
1
8
3 Increase
...
141
85
7
9
12
27
Decrease ... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ... Decrease ... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......
. . .
From the above it will be seen that there were only 17 major operations performed
during 1877, while there were 35 during the present year. Of the 17 cases operated on
during 1877, only one, or 5.88 per cent., died; while during 1878, nine, or 25.71 per cent., suc
- c u m b e d . T h e c a u s e o f t h e m o r t a l i t y a m o n g t h e n i n e p a t i e n t s w h o w e r e o p e r a t e d o n f o r
major operations during the year was as follows:—Three from erysipelas, one from secondary
hœmorrhage, two from diarrhœa, one from syphilitic blood-poisoning, one from shock due
to injuries caused by an alligator bite, one from suppurative nephritis.
There were 17 minor operations during 1877, while there were 158 during the year,
showing an increase of 141 operations. There was only one death in 1877 under this head,
and 13 during the present year. The cause of death of these 13 was as follows.
Four from pyæmia, one from phthisis pulmonalis, two from erysipelas, six from diarrhœa
and dysentery.
Residence of the patients admitted during the year .—The following table shows the residence
given by each patient on admission during the year:—
District or place.
Number.
Percentage of admission.
...
Suburbs
5,052
4 7 . 6 4
Calcutta
3,560
33.57
Strangers with no residence
1,701
16.04
Howrah
291
274
Total
10,604
99.99
From the above it appears that the largest number of admissions was from the suburbs
of Calcutta, the next from the town, and the next among those who had no residence.
Mortality.—Of the 11,001 patients in hospital during the year, 2,790, or 25.36 per cent.,
di ed, agai nst 24. 82 per cent . dur i ng 1877, showi ng an i ncr ease of• 5 4 p e r c e n t . d u r i n g 1 8 7 8 .
Hospital accommodation .—The hospital accommodation was the same as during the
previous year, with the exception of a kutcha shed which had to be built in April last for the
accommodation of 30 small-pox patients, the ward set apart for this particular disease
being overcrowded.
Overcrowding .—The largest number in hospital during the year was 605 on the 25th
November. The smallest 296 on the 8th June. The hospital wards were overcrowded from
the 15th September to the 31st December 1878, during which period there was a daily
average of 519.31.
Hospital buildings .—With the exception of minor or petty repairs, the hospital building
and the moribund or temporary shed were not repaired during the year. The roof of the former
building during the rains leaked like a sieve. The posts of the latter are in a very rotten
condition. The small-pox hospital was put into an efficient condition during the year.
Compound.—The Deputy Superintendent with the garden establishment levelled and
sloped the greater part of the grounds so as to prevent water from lodging during the rains.
There is a small dirty tank to the south of the hospital close to the dispensary and office,
which should be filled up, but as this cannot be done by the hospital garden establishment,
I would suggest that the Calcutta and Suburban Municipalities be asked to fill it up with
sweepings free of charge, as we accommodate such a large number of their sick.
Drainage .—Some improvements were effected in the drainage of the hospital grounds
during the year. More improvements are needed, but cannot be carried out for want of
money.
Sewerage .—The sewerage of the hospital was the same as during the previous year.
Diet.—The scale of diets was the same as during the previous year. There was, however,
a great reduction in the amount of extras and stimulants issued.