POLICE CHOWKEDAR HOSPITAL.
101
out the southerly wind. During the current year it is to be hoped they will
be removed, and jilmill doors substituted at the south end of each ward in
place of the present open brick-work doorways, which obstruct free ventilation
.
It is absolutely necessary to open out the hospital as much as possible to the
south and east, to counteract the noxious emanations from the native houses
and latrines which form the north and west boundary of the hospital premises.
Nothing can well be more unfortunate than the hospital site, or faulty than
the building itself, as edibles of the worst description continue to be passed
under the railings from the main road or street, such as gram and chillies, in
spite of the utmost vigilance of the guard on duty : some cases of death from
dysentery and fever were traced to that cause alone. Many fever cases have
been attacked by dysentery while in hospital, and vice versâ ; sores and ulcers
have often taken on a sloughing form, necessitating their transfer to the Muni
-
cipal Pauper Hospital, which is also under the same superintendence, where
they for the most part rapidly recover, proving that the air of the Police
Chowkedar Hospital is vitiated by the surroundings on the north and western
boundaries. Much is being done to improve the defects, efficient drainage is
being carried out, three detached latrines with a supply of water has been
estimated for, as also stand-posts for drinking and bathing purposes, all of which
must prove of great convenience if they do not shorten the duration of disease
and lessen the mortality. Time will show; but it is to be feared that no great
reduction in the death-rate can take place so long as the adjoining buildings
empty their refuse into the hospital compound. The wards of the hospital
would be much improved by the substitution of iron pillars, as recommended
in previous annual reports, in place of the present heat radiating brick pillars.
Defects.
Improvements
in prospect.
A gate to the southern entrance is a necessity.
Lighting. —It is desirable, if not more economical, that the wards should be
lighted with gas. Two gas-lights in each ward, in lieu of the single oil lamp now
allowed, would not be over much for a ward measuring 59 feet in length, 21 feet
in breadth, and 13 feet in height.
Lighting.
Dieting. —The cost of dieting per head per mensem,
inclusive of extras, is
Rs.
4
A.
10
P.
3
Ditto ditto per diem
0 2 5
The total cost of each sick chowkedar, inclusive of
the establishment pay, contingent expenses, and bazar
medicines, per mensem, is
9 7 3
Ditto ditto ditto per diem
0 5 0
Dieting.
RUM, milk, and extras, require to be dealt out at times with no sparing
hand in impoverished and debilitated constitutions, especially to men from the
North-West Provinces, who form fully three-fourths of the Calcutta and Subur-
ban police forces. They live chiefly on gram with the object of saving money
to send to their homes, in consequence of which many of the police force,
being insufficiently fed, fall ready victims to disease, and having no resilience
of constitution to battle with sickness, are too often on a par with the
sick admitted into the Municipal Pauper Hospital, and require a full supply of
nourishment and stimulants, especially when convalescing.
Consequence of
insufficient diet.
Establishment. —The establishment is insufficient, as represented in the
annual reports of 1868-69 and 1870:—
1 Shop cooly,
4 Ward coolies,
2 Sweepers,
Establishment.