Localities from
which cholera cases
were admitted.
Necessity for
treating cholera
in its early stages.
Sanction of two
special nurses for
cholera ward.
Statistics of
Christian
male patients.
Christian female
patients.
Children.
Mor
e accommodation
required for
lying-in women and
nursee.
Sumbhoo Nath
Pundit's Ward.
20
REPORT ON THE
8. The following were the chief sources from which cholera cases (Europeans only)
were received for treatment, and the information afforded in the report for 1875 is also given
for sake of comparison:—
1876
.
Admissions. Deaths.
1875
. A d m i s s i o n s . D e a t h s .
Shipping above Fort Point ...
. . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . .
46
26
26
19
Ditto below ditto
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
45
27
39
2 4
Received from other places than shipping
...
. . .
. . .
11
9
10
7
Dr. Elliot further writes that "experience has proved that cholera can only be
treated with a moderate degree of success when seen in the very early stages; and as few
of the cases with which we had to deal had the benefit of medical aid till they were
far advanced in the disease, it is not surprising to find that the mortality among
them has been very great. This points to the urgent necessity which exists for making
special arrangement for the conveyance of seamen from the shipping in the river to one or
other of the hospitals in town before the disease has fairly established itself. It was deemed
indispensably necessary to entertain separate nurses, and to set apart a ward in hospital for
the special use of cholera cases. On making a representation to His Honor the Lieutenant-
Governor, the expenditure necessary for the entertainment of two additional nurses was
sanctioned for six months in the first instance, and, on making further application for their
services, the nurses have been brought permanently on the strength of the establishment.
By this means cases, after being seen by the resident medical officer on admission, are imme--
diately brought under proper supervision and nursing, and are thus placed under far more
favourable circumstances for recovery than could possibly have been the case when occasional
visits only were paid by the regular ward nurses, who have their own duties to attend to
in a separate portion of the building. Separate beds, bedding, clothing, &c., have been set
apart for their use, and every arrangement entered into for placing them under constant
observation under the immediate care of the subordinate officer on duty for the day. Under
the most favourable circumstances, the results, as a rule, are most unsatisfactory and
disheartening."
9. During 1876 the total number of Christian male patients treated amounted to
2,834. Of this number 127 died, or at the rate of 4 .48 per cent. The average admissions
of this class during the preceding decennial period amounted to 2,255, and the death-rate to
5 .42 per cent. It is stated that, with the exception of 1871 and 1872, the number of male
patients admitted during 1876 has exceeded that of any other year on record, and the rate
of mortality has been comparatively smaller than that of previous years.
10. The total number of females (Christians) treated was 484, of whom 24 died, or at
the rate of 4 . 95 per cent. This number, it is said, exceeded the admissions of the dengue
year, 1872. The mortality has been greater among this class, partly, Dr. Elliot remarks,
because of the serious nature of their ailments in many instances, and partly owing to the
number of aged and inferior persons who were brought to hospital in a hopeless and dying
state, to whom medical treatment could be of no avail, but to whom admission could not be
refused.
11. Of 251 children (Christians) treated during the year, nine died, or at the rate of
3 . 58 per cent. This death-rate contrasts favourably with that of 1875, which was 5 . 7 per
cent. Dr. Elliot states that "under existing arrangements there is not sufficient accommo--
dation in the hospital for this class of patients."
12. Regarding the want of accommodation for lying-in women and for the nurses,
Dr. Elliot writes as follows:—"During sickly seasons, and even at certain times during
ordinary seasons, the want of sufficient space, especially for lying-in women, is felt to be a
serious inconvenience. This will be remedied to some extent when the new lying-in room,
recently sanctioned by His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, has been completed and made
available for the reception of patients. By the occupation of this room for lying-in women,
the pressure upon the common wards will be relieved, and a certain amount of privacy
observed during confinements which is not possible under existing circumstances. It was
expected that, on the completion of the ' Canning Home,' the lower rooms of the building
would have been available for occupation by the nurses, where they would have been
under the immediate eye of the Lady Superintendent; but since the arrival of a third lady
nurse, this arrangement is rendered impracticable, and the nurses must continue to occupy
the eastern portion of the female ward formerly allotted to them till such time as
regular quarters for their accommodation be made available, but of which there seems to
be little prospect at the present time."
13. In the Sumboo Nath Pundit's ward, which contains 30 beds, there were 430
Native patients treated during the year 1876. Of this number 60 died, or at the rate of
13 . 95 per cent. In 1875 the total number of patients treated in this ward was 329, with a
death-rate of 12 .76 per cent. The daily average number of sick in 1876 was 22 . 03, against
22 .23 in 1875.