CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
17
The former diets had the disadvantage of allowing unlimited extras to
the strong and vigorous. This has been put a stop to; no extras whatever are
now allowed to those on full, or half, or ordinary milk diets, but where the weak
and the specially diseased require a special diet, a separate one is freely given
them.
The washing and cooking will have our attention in turn.
The issue of medicines and the expenditure of dressings, bandages, &c.,
has been watched with good results.
Many old instruments have been returned into store; and our hospital
has been weeded of its incurables to some extent.
The hospital requirement is a place for the segregation of contagious or
septic cases. This it is proposed to accomplish by building a new mid-
wifery hospital on adjoining land, and utilizing the empty wards for this
purpose.
A new Out-door Dispensary.
This we expect to accomplish owing to the generosity of the late Baboo
Chuni Lal Seal, who has left Rs. 62,000 for the purpose under certain condi-
tions, which are now under the consideration of Government.
Better quarters for our Nurses.
This subject also is before Government, and plans for a new building
have been sanctioned.
Financial.
The following savings were effected during the year from our budget
grant :—
Rs. A. P.
Diet of patients
...
. . .
. . ..
. .
5,202 11 0
Country medicines
. . .
...
...
...
...
34 11 9
Other items including lighting, contingencies, and cloth for bandages
...
2,030 1 9
Petty public works.
. . .
...
...
...
1,011 0 0
Establishment
. . .
•••
. . .
...
189 9 0
Clothing
...
...
. . .
...
... 1,464 1 4
Burning and burying pauper bodies
...
...
...
...
328 4 6
Total
... 10,260 7 4
Thus the actual expenditure has fallen short of the allowance sanctioned
by Government to the amount of Rs. 10,260-7-4.
In comparing the income and expenditure of 1876 with that of 1877,
I have to observe that, while there were 2,748 patients more in the latter year,
the expenditure on diets and wines was less by Rs. 1,506-8-6, while there has
been an increase in the clothing and bedding of Rs. 1,918-13-2. There has
been a decreased charge of Rs. 594-11-10 in cloths and bandages, and of
Rs. 698 1-9 in contingencies, and in burials Rs. 152-15-6, and in public works
we have spent less by Rs. 2,024-6-10. We have had Rs. 70-0-6 increased
expenditure in bazar medicines.
The lighting, caused by increased rates, has been more by Rs. 97-15-3.
From paying-patients we have had Rs. 2,221 more than were received in
1876. While the interest on invested capital has increased by Rs. 1,399-6-3,
while the balance in hand has increased by Rs. 1,291-0-3.
PRESIDENCY GENERAL HOSPITAL.
THE Annual Report of the General Hospital is submitted by the First
Resident Surgeon, Surgeon O'Connell Raye, consequent on the death of
Dr. John Elliot, Surgeon-Superintendent, on the 7th January 1878. Dr. Elliot
held Medical charge through the whole of 1877.
2. Dr. Raye says, in reference to his death, "this sad event occurring as
it did just as the submission of the annual report became due, rendered its
preparation somewhat difficult, and the review of the work of the year must
n ecessarily be more incomplete than under ordinary circumstances it would
have been." Dr. Raye also alludes to the fact of Mr. Mills, the Steward, being
new to his work, and consequently unacquainted with the working of the
Finance.