Dieting.
Improvements, &c.
18
REPORT ON THE
Out-door patients.
Hospital to the General Hospital, in connection with my proposal to have two assistant
surgeons appointed to the newly opened out-door dispensary."
18. The out-door dispensary department was opened in 1874, when 1,107 patients
received advice and medicine, but during the past year the attendance of patients had increased
to 9,544. Dr. Ewart reports that this highly satisfactory increase in the number of out-door
patients "is not the measure of what might have been done had the arrangements for the
carrying on of this work been of a more fixed and permanent character. The dispensary
has been conducted by doing-duty assistant surgeons under the supervision of the 1st and
2nd resident surgeons."
19. The dieting of the patients was well and satisfactorily conducted, and without any
complaints.
20. Through the liberality and intervention of His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, the
sanitary condition of the hospital has been much improved. New furniture and a substantial
addition to the hospital equipment has been granted. Improvements have been made in the
bath-rooms, lavatories, and latrines. By the introduction of the municipal system of
drainage, the hospital has been brought into communication with the neighbouring sewer.
Sinks and urinals have been trapped, the ground to the west of the hospital has been
railed in, and the unsightly and jail-like wall to the north of the hospital has been removed,
and the other contemplated improvements, when completed, will prove of the highest sanitary
value by enlarging the compound and permitting the freest circulation of air in all directions.
Nursing.
Medical
subordinate
officers' quarters.
Hospital lirbary.
Staff.
Visitors.
Expenditure.
21. The Lady Superintendent, Miss Cartwright, has left for England, and her place has
been filled by Miss Huband. Dr. Ewart reports that under the superintendence of this lady
the nursing and all that appertains to it have undergone great improvement.
22. These quarters, said to be condemned long ago, are reported on as not being fit for
habitation, and Dr. Ewart trusts that the question of new quarters to be built on the site of
the village to the east of the hospital will be considered and sanctioned as soon as possible.
At the suggestion of Mr. Wade, steward of the hospital, a reading-room, provided with
the nucleus of a medical library and with the lay and medical papers, has been established for
the use of the subordinate medical officers, by whom it is very much appreciated.
23. The library now contains upwards of 3,000 volumes, and it and the reading-room
(the latter established during the past year) have proved a great acquisition to the patients.
24. Dr. Ewart acknowledges the able and willing assistance he has received from the
1st and 2nd resident surgeons, and also from the subordinate medical officers attached to the
hospital.
25. The hospital was visited by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Duke of
Sutherland, Lord Alfred. Paget, Lord Beresford, Lord Napier of Magdala, Sir Richard Temple,
Sir W. H. Gregory, Dr. Russell, the Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle, the
Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India, and by Dr. Fayrer, C.S.I.
26. The expenditure on the maintenance and administration of the hospital during the
past year amounted to Rs. 1,14,772-15.6. This sum is exclusive of the amount expended under
the following heads, and to the cost of which the Surgeon Superintendent had not any
access, viz. 1st, the cost of repairs, &c., by the Department Public Works; 2 nd, of medicines
and. instruments supplied by Medical Store Department ; 3 rd, of salaries, &c., of nurses provided
for by the Nurses' institution; and 4th, of the salary, &c., of the Lady Superintendent placed
at the disposal of the hospital by the trustees of the Canning Home for Nurses.
Remarks by the
Deputy Surgeon.
General of the
Presidency Circle.
27. The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle, in his memorandum 94E,
of the 15th February 1876, giving cover to the annual report of this hospital, writes that
—
Surgeon-Major J. Ewart has continued as Surgeon Superintendent throughout the year,
except for a period of two months' privilege leave, during which Surgeon-Major E. Gayer
acted for him. Surgeon C. H. Joubert, officiating as 1st Resident Surgeon, was at the
end of January replaced by Surgeon-Major J. G. French, who in July was appointed Health
Officer of the port, and succeeded by Dr. O'Connell Raye. Surgeon S. C. Mackenzie has
continued 2nd Resident Surgeon throughout the year.
" The most necessary further improvement appears to be the erection of fresh quarters
for the hospital subordinates. The present quarters are very old, unhealthy, and unsuited
for the purpose, and were, it is said, condemned long ago. Their removal would, moreover,
further open out the frontage of the hospital, partially obtained by breaking down the wall
which was a continuation of these quarters. It is to be hoped that this much-to-be-desired
improvement will soon be taken into consideration."
The Deputy-Surgeon General remarks that. the hospital has not only fully maintained
its former usefulness, but has greatly added to it by the better organization of the out-door
department started in 1874; and at the occasional visits paid by him, he always found the
hospital very clean and everything in good order, the patients comfortable and well, cared
for in every respect, and. the whole of the arrangements conducted in a most satisfactory
manner.