20
REPORT ON THE
Causes of death
amongst
Europeans.
4. The following table shows at a glance the causes of death amongst Europeans, with
rate of mortality from each:—
Cholera.
Fevers.
Europeans.
Cholera. Dysentery. Hepatitis.
Remittent
fe ver.
Phthisis. Other
causes.
Treated
4 3 ·
3 4 ·
2 5 ·
4 3 ·
1 1 ·
7 1 2 ·
Died
1 3 ·
2 ·
2 ·
3 ·
4 ·
1 9 ·
D e a t h - r a t e p e r m i l l e
302·32
58·82
80·00
69·76
363·63
26·68
A larger number of Europeans with cholera were admitted in 1874 than in any other
year since 1869, and the same remark holds good as regards the other Calcutta hospitals.
On this point Dr. Bird writes:—"We must refer the rise and fall of cholera to wider and more
powerful influences than those pertaining to drinking-water, drainage, or conservancy."
6. The mortality of Europeans from remittent fever has decreased very considerably.
Dr. Bird is inclined to believe that this happy result is mainly due to the free use of Warburgh's
fever tincture. Regarding the causation and distinctive characters of fevers of India, Dr. Bird
remarks as follows:—"In one case the fire drifts to the brain, and is called typhus; in another
to the bowels, and is called typhoid; while in a mild case it plays over the skin, the mucous linings
of our bodies, and in the folded glands only, and is named remittent. Whether each of these
has a specially different cause, is not yet determined; but however this question may be settled,
I am sure of this, that at the outset of one and all if Warburgh's fever tincture, or ammonia
and sulphuric ether, or some other of our principal heat-controllers, be swiftly and boldly
used, cure will usually follow."
Causes of death
amongst natives.
7. The following statement shows the causes of death, rate of death per mile, and the
number of natives treated.
Natives.
Intermittent
fever.
Remittent
fever.
Cholera. Phthisis. Dysentery. Diarrhœa. Hepatitis.
Other
causes.
Treated
99
103
83
13
171
53
42
580
Died
3
27
35
4
90
18
2
116
Rate of deaths per mille
30·30
263·30
421·68
307·69
526·31
339·62
47·61
2 0 0 · 0
Hydrate of chloral,
&c., in cholera.
Natives admitted
in a dying state.
Midwifery.
8. "The hypodermic injection of chloral was used as a remedy for cholera, but unsuc
-
cessfully, and reliance for cure was for the most part placed in calomel, which, above all other
remedies, has proved most efficacious in the cure of this disease."
The above are Dr. Bird's remarks; but opinions vary regarding the most efficacious
means of treating cholera.
9. Dr. Bird writes that "in the past year 225 moribunds were received at the doors
of the hospital. By moribunds I mean not only those who die in 24 hours after admission,
i.e ., official moribunds, but also those others who are, when taken over, in an utterly hopeless
state." These cases are beyond the reach of medicine or medical aid, or the beneficial
influences of a hospital when they are admitted. Dr. Bird addressed the chairman of
the Howrah municipality on this subject, and it was considered and discussed, but with
the following result, viz., "The commissioners were powerless to afford any assistance
from municipal funds." However, it was resolved to ask the Rev. Mr. Morris to do what
he could towards introducing an organized society for the relief of the destitute in
Howrah. It was also proposed that Dr. Bird's letter should be forwarded to Government, with
a suggestion that in any further amendment of the municipal act some provision should be
made for establishing a relief fund for the destitute poor of the class referred to. Application
was also made to the trustees of the famine relief fund for a grant (Dr. Bird believes) of
Rs. 25,000.
This subject should be dealt with in a comprehensive way, for the amount of destitution
in Howrah is rapidly increasing to such an extent as to be beyond the control of private
charity and of the hospital committee; but I am sure the representations of Dr. Bird and
of the municipal commissioners will receive all due attention from the Government.
10. Ten European women were confined in the hospital in 1874, with one death.