Date of establish-
ment.
Amount of accom-
modation avail-
able.
112
REPORT ON THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
REPORT OF THE NORTH SUBURBAN HOSPITAL.
The hospital was established in September 1866 for the reception of in-door
patients only, and has been in existence for the last six years and four months.
2. It ordinarily provides 36 beds only, but during the last year, from July
to December, when sickness was unusually prevalent, extra accommodation was
provided for patients brought to the hospital with serious and urgent symptoms,
to prevent their dying on the way if removed to Calcutta hospitals. The total
number of beds never exceeded 45 at a time, for fear of overcrowding.
Building.
Finances.
The hospital is located in a house, situated on the Cossipore Road, close
to the Government Gun Foundry, for which a rent of Rs. 60 is paid per
month. The patients are accommodated in a large commodious shed, which is
open on the south, and is supplied by a masonry wall, having openings for
ventilation on the other sides. It has canvas purdahs on the south which
protects it from the sun and rain. The roof is thatched, and the floor is nearly
on a level with premises. The shed being unsuitable for the purposes of a
hospital, the committee of management are endeavoring their utmost to
build a suitable house. A site for the building has been obtained at Borana-
gore as a free gift from Babu Chunder Coomar Roy and his co-sharers of the
Narail estate. I believe the erection of the building will soon commence.
There is a one-storied house in the hospital compound, which not being adapted
for the purposes of a hospital, is occupied by the Sub-Assistant Surgeon, his
office and dispensary.
The finances of the hospital are managed by a committee of influential
Native and European gentlemen, the Magistrate of the 24-Pergunnahs being
the ex-officio president.
The Government contributes the pay of the medical officer and the cost
of Europe medicines and surgical instruments.
On the recommendation of the Deputy-Inspector General of Hospitals, a
more liberal diet scale was adopted in September last. This has consider-
ably increased the expenditure. The increased expenditure is partially met
from the savings in the cost of the sanctioned establishment.
The financial position of the hospital is satisfactory. The balance at the
end of the year 1871 was Rs. 16,683-3-4, which, added to the subscriptions,
donations realized, and interest of invested funds, aggregate Rs. 24,182-11-1.
The total expenditure was Rs. 4,554-9-3. The balance available on the
1st January 1873 was Rs. 19,628-1-10: of this sum Rs. 17,882-1-6 is invested in
municipal debentures. The pay of the medical officer and the cost of Europe
medicines received as contributions from the Government are shown in the
accompanying returns, but not included in the totals given above.
Number of patients
treated.
The total number of sick treated during the year under report was 726
against 749 of the previous year. Of this number 317 were discharged cured, 99
had partial relief, 34 were no better, 191 died, and 35 remained under treatment
on the 1st of January 1873.
The daily average number of sick treated was 35.178 against 36 of the
previous year.
Mortality.
The percentage of mortality among the sick treated during the year was 26
per cent. against 24 per cent. of the previous year. This high death-rate was
owing to the large number of low cases of diarrhœa, anasarca, fever, cholera,