CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
29
that it is owing to a want of funds that the alterations recommended by an architect have
not been carried out. The committee have, however, decided to build latrine and bath-room
accommodation in a separate wing, which is now in course of erection, and it is to be hoped
that funds will be collected to build the remaining one required.
The general repairs of the hospital will, it is stated, be executed during the present hot
weather .
13. The finances of the hospital are still in a tolerably healthy condition. At the end
of the year there was a cash balance to credit of the hospital funds of Rs. 543-11-3.
The total receipts for 1875 amounted to Rs. 35,065-10-3, and the expenditure to
Rs. 34,521-15-0.
Of the donations received during the year, Rs. 1,465-2-6 were contributed by Europeans
and Rs. 25 by natives.
The average cost of each patient's diet in the European department of the hospital was
annas 8-6½ per diem, and anna 1-11½ in the native.
Finances and
expenditure.
14. The conservancy of the hospital is now under the management of the municipal
authorities.
The municipal authorities have bought two new sites in which to bury the night-soil,
and the question of burning instead of burying it has been under discussion.
The main difficulty in the disposal of the night-soil seems to consist in its conveyance
through the streets to the place for its disposal, as it is found impossible to get the work done
during those hours while the streets are empty, and, owing to the carelessness of the sweepers,
the filth carts, though well constructed, have frequently been a cause of most serious annoy-
ance to people passing through the streets. The Magistrate is of opinion that this state of
affairs must continue until a night-soil cart is invented which shall seal itself without the
necessity of any special appliance to be worked by natives.
A drainage scheme for Howrah seems to have been under consideration, but owing to
the direction of the levels, &c., and the cost of carrying it out in its integrity, was found to be
far beyond the resources of the municipal funds. It seems that Howrah is composed of two
portions, of which the circumstances, as regards the question of drainage, are widely different.
The first of these portions, that which is principally inhabited by Europeans and Eurasians, is
metropolitan in character, and comprises an area of two miles or under; the other portion is
entirely rural, consisting of an agglomeration of densely packed native houses, and has an
area of between 10 and 11 square miles.
It is considered that the only way of dealing practically with the drainage of Howrah
is to treat the metropolitan and rural areas separately. For the former it is proposed to
have an under-ground system of masonry drains, for the latter a system of open grassed
drains debouching upon tanks. The masonry drain scheme, it is stated, has been carried
out to a small extent, but it is also stated to be undeniable that it has done a great deal for
metropolitan Howrah, and, in the opinion of the Magistrate, will, in its completed state,
do all that is claimed for it, and effectually relieve Howrah of the rainfall water.
Conservancy.
15. The municipal, district, and Government railway police (strength not given)
have been treated in this hospital during the year. The daily average number sick of the
police force in hospital was 17 . 95. Dr. Bird remarks that a large proportion of the sickness
which prevailed amongst the policemen he treated is indirectly traceable to insufficiency
of food.
Polico treated in
hospital.
16. Mr. Assistant Apothecary Fitzgibbon, v.c., is reported to have worked zealously
during the year.
17. The Deputy Surgeon-General of the Presidency Circle inspected this hospital on
the 11th February 1876. He remarks:—" The hospital can accommodate from 83 to 85
in-patients without overcrowding, is built on a good site, and its southerly aspect enables
the sick to get the full benefit of the river breeze in the hot weather.
"On the basement story there are two wards, one for Europeans and one for natives,
besides an office and store-room, matron's room, and a large waiting-room, at one end of which
is the dispensary; on the upper floor there is a large main ward, three smaller ones, called
'railway' wards, for the railway employés, and four private rooms for paying patients ; there
is a broad verandah on the north and south." Regarding the latrine and bath-room
accommodation, the Deputy Surgeon-General remarks :—" This arrangement is most objec-
tionable, but will fortunately not last much longer, as a separate building for bath-rooms and
latrines, connected with the main building by a covered passage, is being erected close to the
Portico and is nearly finished.
" There is no separate ward for infectious or contagious diseases."
Deputy Surgeon-General Cockburn concludes his inspection report in the following
terms:—"The inspection of this hospital is satisfactory. It is a very useful and well managed
institution, all the details being carefully looked after by the resident house surgeon, Assistant
Apothecary Fitzgibbon, who is a smart, active, and intelligent officer."