14
REPORT ON THE
Total dispensary practice.— The following table shews the relief rendered to out-door
patients during the past five years :—
1874
45,199
1875
45,374
1 8 7 6
44,679
1 8 7 7
47.506
1 8 7 8
48,986
Nurses.—The following is a true copy of a letter addressed to the Honorary Secretary
of the Hospital Nurses' Committee :
—
" Being requested by the Hospital Nurses Committee to submit my opinion regarding the
conduct of the nurses in the College Hospital for the past year, it is right that I should state
that I returned from England, after an absence of 20 months, about the middle of November,
consequently I have not had much opportunity of forming a personal judgment on this
subject.
" The 'character book.' which is in the hands of the Committee, and which is, month
by month, filled in by the members of the hospital staff, will best shew their individual
opinions.
"I may add, however, that I am fully convinced that the nurses at our hospital are, for
the most part, kind, willing, and conscientious, and that they do much really good work.
They have not been specially trained, as most good nurses in England now are; but that is
not their fault.
"By-and-bye I hope all new-comers may have had the advantage of such special training,
which would undoubtedly much enhance their usefulness. Meanwhile the majority of those
that we have do, I believe, endeavour to act faithfully, and so prove of great service to the
sick in our wards.
"I desire to avail myself of this opportunity of adding that, in my opinion, we, the
members of the hospital staff, are much indebted to the ladies of the Nurses' Committee for
the great and practical interest many of them take in the conduct and welfare of the nurses,
and in the benefits to the general public which result from their services."
The Committee appointed to enquire into medical expenditure in Bengal conducted
during the past year a close investigation into the administration of the College Hospital.
But as the "Report of the Committee" has only now been officially sent to me, and as
the resolution of the Government upon the said report is dated 25th January 1879, it
seems unnecessary to allude to the subject at present.
Diet scales.— The accompanying Tables, marked A. and B, shew the diet scales
proposed by Dr. Coates and approved by Government.
Hospital establishment.— The hospital establishment has been reduced as per accompanying
statement marked C, which shews a reduction in expenditure of Rs. 177 per mensem.
Water-supply.— Important changes have been made in the arrangements for the
water-supply of the hospital. The engine formerly in use has been disallowed, and an
arrangement for pumping up water by hand, from the first to the upper floor, is now in
force. This plan is certainly cheaper than the former one, which involved the cost of a
steam-engine; but I am bound to say that I think it is, although less costly, not equal to
the old arrangement. However, it may be said to be still on its trial, and therefore
it seems unnecessary to enter into the details of this subject at present.
Nurses' quarters.--A plan and estimates for a new building for nurses' quarters
have been sanctioned. This, when it is carried out, will be a great improvement on the
present arrangement.
New contagious wards.— The construction of new contagious wards has also been
sanctioned, and a site has been selected to the south of the hospital.
New wards for alcoholic cases.— New wards for alcoholic cases have also been sanc-
tioned at a cost of Rs. 4,000. The plans are now in preparation, and the work will pro-
bably be commenced at an early date.
The Chooni Lal Seal Dispensary.— Plans and estimates for the new "Chooni Lal Seal"
Dispensary are now under the consideration of the Government. Rs. 12,000 will be devoted
to its construction, and Rs. 50,000 invested for the maintenance of the institution. A
site has already been selected, and the actual construction of the building will probably
very soon be commenced.
Resident Physicians' and Surgeons' quarters.—Alterations and additions to the quarter
of the Resident Physician and Surgeon are now in progress.
New Obstetric Hospital.— A new obstetric hospital has been sanctioned, the cost of
which (with the nurses' quarters and other buildings) will amount to six lakhs.
The ground has been surveyed and the estimates approved, and it will be greatly to the
advantage of the College Hospital when this (obstetric) department has a special building
of its own.
_Assistant Suraeons.— The Resident Assistant Surgeons* have performed their duties with
* Assistant Surgeons Benode Behari
Bose, Behari Lall Chakravarti, Jogessur
Roy, Bepin Kristo Coomar, Nitai Churn
Haldar, Abinash Chandra Banerjee.
marked credit during the past year. Dr. Partridge speaks
of his late House Surgeon, Behari Lall Chakravarti, as the
best Assistant he has ever had. Besides the regular staff of
Resident Assistant Surgeons, a number of supernumeraries,
on an average 12, have been attached. to the College hospital tor duty. some of these have
performed most useful work in the dispensaries, but for the majority there is very little to do.