CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
27
This table should be taken with the one following, and both exhibit the work of the
year in both departments.
The admissions of European patients were less than in the previous years, and was pur
-posely so owing to the want of space. Many cases of no great urgency had to be refused
admissions.
The patients admitted were employés of the British India Steam Navigation Company,
East Indian Railway, other public Companies, seamen, and paupers.
The out-patients came from Howrah chiefly, but not a few from Calcutta.
It is gratifying to report that the native out-patients' department continues to attract
large numbers of sick. This is largely due to the attention of Assistant Surgeon Umirto
Lall Deb.
The aggregate sickness and mortality in the European and native departments, in-door
and out-door, during the past as compared with the preceding three years is indicated.
EUROPEANS AND EURASIANS.
NATIVES.
Year.
Treated.
Died.
Ratio per 1,000
of deaths to
treated.
Treated.
Died.
Ratio per 1,000
of deaths to
treated.
In.
Out. In. Out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
In. Out.
In.
Out.
1875
844
5,870
31
...
36.729
...
1,401
12,154
316
...
225.553
...
1876
868
6,066
30
...
34.562
...
1,472
12,422
321
...
218.070
...
1877
953
4,998
38
...
39.874
...
1,510
14,329
381
...
252.317
...
1878
828
4,100
46
...
55.555
...
1,674
16,305
580
...
346.474
...
The year was a sickly one, not only was there an unusual prevalence of fever, but it was
of severe and fatal type. This is seen, not only by the hospital returns, but by the evidence of
practitioners in the various parts of the town. Cholera appears also to have been severe in
type, and bowel-complaints were unusually prevalent.
The causes of death amongst European and Eurasian patients during the year 1878
are stated in the subjoined table:—
DISEASES.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER 1,000 to—
Treated.
Total treated
from all
causes.
Total death.
Fever, remittent
15
9
6 0 0 . 0 0 0
10.869
195.652
Cholera
19
11
578.947
13.285
239.130
Liver-disease
17
3
176.470
3.623
65.217
Phthisis pulmonalis
37
9
243.243
10.869
1 9 5 . 6 5 2
Dysentery
54
5
92.592
6.038
108.695
Other causes
686
9
13.119
10.869
195.652
The death-rate among European and East Indian in-patients was excessive, much
greater than in previous years.
The above table shows a heavy mortality from remittent fever, cholera, and phthisis,
chiefly due to the admission of the sufferers in a dying state. Of the above number of
deaths, 16 occurred within the first 48 hours after admission.
The following statement shows in detail the causes of mortality amongst natives:—
DISEASES.
Treated.
Died.
RATIO OF DEATHS PER MILLE TO
—
Treated.
Total treated
from all causes. Total death.
Fevers
378
63
166.666
37.633
108.620
C h o l e r a
83
44
530.120
26.284
75.862
Phthisis pulmonalis
2
1
500.000
0.598
1.724
Dysentery
77
25
3 2 4 . 6 7 6
14.935
43.103
Diarrhœa
580
328
565.517
195.937
5 6 5 . 5 1 7
Other causes
554
119
214.801
71.087
205.172
As mentioned in my report of last year, this table gives a very erroneous idea of
hospital mortality, as that term is ordinarily used.
The destitute and neglected sick of a very populous town are admitted in the last stage
of disease, and in very many cases are picked up on the roadside and brought into hospital.
Of the 1,674 treated in hospital 580 died, and of these deaths a little less than two-
thirds, namely 353, occurred from bowel-complaints, 63 from fever, and 44 from cholera.
Not less than 200 of the 580 deaths occurred during the first 48 hours after admission.