( 2 )
4. It appears from this statement that the general increase in the number
of patients noticed above extended to those of every race, except the small body
of persons classified under the head 'Other castes.' Of the total number treated,
59.94 per cent. were males, 15 .29 per cent. females, and 24.76 per cent. children.
The low proportion of females to males among Hindoo and Mahomedan
patients noticed and explained in last year's Resolution was this year particularly
marked. Although, as compared with 1876, there was an increase of 2,194 in
the number of Mohammedan males treated, there was a decrease of 453 in
the number of Mahomedan females; the Hindoo adult male patients increased
by 4,428, and the children by 3,575; while the Hindoo female patients increased
by only 935. From a comparative statement given in the report, it appears
that the total proportion of adult female patients to males and children was
lower in 1877 than in any of the previous four years.
5. The following table shows the health of the town and suburbs during
the past ten years, as exhibited in the hospital returns :-
YEARS.
ALL DISEASES.
CHOLERA.
Death-rate,
excluding
cholera.
Number of
deaths regis-
tered by the
municipality.
Rate per
mille of
popula-
tion.
Treated.
Died.
Died per
mille.
Treated.
Died.
Died per
mille.
1868 ...
...
16,996
3,386
199
1,224
563
461
179
13,736
32
1869 ...
...
18,035
3,043
169
1,144
558
487
147
12,795
29.8
1870 ...
...
15,816
2,250
142
605
258
426
131
10,462
24.4
1871 ...
...
17,325
2,288
132
255
112
439
127
10,299
24
1872 ...
...
20,805
2,761
132
488
217
484
125
11,923
27.8
1873 ...
...
18,896
2,706
143
492
264
536
132
11,558
26.9
1874
20,331
3,197
157.
666
339
509
145
1 2 , 6 4 1
29'4
1875 ...
...
22,806
3,815
167
787
405
515
1 5 4
15,069
35
1876* ...
...
21,832
3,226
147
740
399
539
134
12,964
3 0 . 2
1877*
24,822
3,308
133
574
2 9 4
512
124
13,704
31.9
* Exclusive of cases treated in the Eye Infirmary.
6. The death-rate per thousand among those treated was 133, the lowest
rate during the past ten years if the exceptionally healthy period, 1871-72, is
excluded. Omitting cholera cases, the mortality among the patients was 124
per thousand, a lower rate than in any of the preceding nine years. The
number of, and mortality among, patients cannot however, in ordinary years, be
regarded as tests of the amount of sickness and the virulence of disease. The
popularity of the medical institutions of Calcutta and the suburbs is undoubt-
edly increasing, and is shown by persons resorting to them at the earlier
stages of disease and for less serious ailments. As a necessary consequence,
while the number of patients rises the death-rate falls.
7. Dr. Irving calls attention to the facts that the sewage of about 2,500
natives living in the Fort is still discharged into the river, and that cholera far
more frequently attacks sailors on ships moored near to and below the
place of discharge than those on ships moored higher up the river. The
necessity of putting a stop to the existing practice is fully recognised, but
difficulties have arisen with regard to the proposal to connect the Fort drains
with the municipal sewers, and the question is still under consideration by the
Government of India.
8. The statement of the principal diseases from which in-door patients
suffered shows a large increase in malanous fevers. There were 6,706 admissions
and 483 deaths due to fever of various types as compared with 4,730 admissions
and 351 deaths in 1876. In all, 916 important surgical operations were
performed during the year against 669 in 1876. The total mortality in 1877
was only 77 or 8 .4 per cent. of those operated on, against 74 deaths or 11.06
per cent. in the previous year. The operations on the eye were even more
successful in 1877 than in 1876. In each year only one operation ended
fatally, but the number of operations was 318 in 1877 against 223 in the
previous year. The results of the operations performed by the surgeons of the
Calcutta Medical Institutions appear to be most satisfactory.
9. A statement of the income and expenditure of the different institutions
is given in the report, but the Surgeon-General explains that it is neither
accurate nor complete. The items of expenditure entered appear, however,
generally to correspond with those given last year, and the statements for
the two years can therefore be compared,. although, except for the purpose of
comparison, they are at present of little value. The whole subject of the
expenditure and management of the Calcutta hospitals has been exhaustively