CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS. 23
cent., against 1.99 per cent. during the previous year, thus showing a decrease of 93 per
cent. This large decrease in the death-rate is probably due to the fact that all the old
and inefficient men were got rid of during the year, and their places were filled up with a
carefully-selected class of recruits.
The following table shows the various diseases from which the patients who died
suffered:—
Diseases.
Admissions into
hospital.
Deaths. Ratio of deaths
to admissions.
Ratio of
deaths to total
strength of
police force.
Enteric fever
1
1
100
.03
Cholera
21
8
38.09
.27
Pneumonia
16
8
50
.27
Dysentery
279
2
.71
. 0 6
Diarrhœa
117
2
1.70
.06
Abscess
36
1
2.77
.03
Remittent fever
11
1
9.09
.03
Phthisis pulmonalis
26
7
26.92
.24
Splenitis
7
1 14.28
.03
From the above it will be seen that only one case of enteric fever was admitted and
died. This man was a constable attached to the Coomartollee thana, and on investiga-
tion it was ascertained that there were two very filthy drains close to the thana. These
were put in order. I am unable to assign any cause for the fact that only 38.09 per cent.
of the cases of cholera died. I saw all the cases, and can vouch to the fact that they were all
cholera and not diarrhœa. The treatment followed was astringents and chalk mixture
during the stage of diarrhœa, diffusible stimulants and occasional large doses of calomel
during the collapsed stage, and mild diuretics and dry-cupping to the loins during the
stage of reaction. The eight deaths from pneumonia occurred principally in the persons
of constables who had become debilitated by constant attacks of malarious fever, and who
were unable to stand the fatigues of night rounds. Most of the deaths from phthisis were
among feeble men, who were physically unfit to withstand the hard and arduous duties
of the police.
Recruits.—During the year 946 recruits were sent by the Commissioner of Police to
be examined physically, and this was done very carefully by myself and the resident medical
officer. I find, on referring to our books, that of these 946 men, 230, or 24.31 per cent., were
rejected, 655, or 69.24 per cent., were passed, and 61, or 6.45, were noted as "absent." On
referring to last year's annual report, I find that 87.62 per cent. were passed, 2.60 per cent.
were rejected, and 9.78 per cent. were "absent."
From the above it will be seen that great care was taken in their selection. A large
proportion of the recruits rejected were very young lads, who were too young for the
arduous duties of a constable, and who would have soon become sickly and inefficient.
Hospital accommodation .—The hospital accommodation was exactly the same as in the
previous year.
Overcrowding .—The hospital was overcrowded during the months of January, November,
and December. The largest number in hospital on any given day was 229 on the 8th
December 1878; the smallest 59 on the 30th June 1878.
Hospital buildings .—The hospital buildings need repair. A good deal of the sand
plaster on the walls of the verandah has worn off. The inside of each ward needs to be
properly white-washed.
The compound.—The whole of the compound was levelled and sloped during the year.
The surface drains, however, require to be properly levelled, as water lodges in them during
the rains and becomes foul and a nuisance.
Sewerage. — The hospital sewerage was the same as during the previous year; it was
good and sufficient. The sewerage of the adjoining houses which used to open into the
compound was connected with the sewerage of the town during the year.
Diets .—The diets in force during the previous year were found to be insufficient, so,
with the sanction of the Surgeon-General for Bengal and the Commissioner of Police, the
following diets were introduced:—
Full Diet.
Half Diet.
Mille Diet.
Spoon Diet.
S. C. K.
S. C. K.
S. C. K.
S. C. K.
Rice
0 12 0 Rice
0 8 0 Milk
1 0 0 Sago
0 2 0
or
Dill
0 2 0 Sugar
0 1 0 Milk
0 8 0
Atta
0 8 0 Fish or meat
0 2 0 Atta for Hindoo
0 12 0 Sugar
0 1 0
Dill
0 2 0 Vegetable
0 2 0
or
Fuel
1 0 0
Vegetable
0 4 0 Oil
0 0 2 Bread lib for Ma.
Fish or meat
0 3 0 Salt
0 0 1 homedan
No. 1
Salt
0 0 1 Mussalah
0 0 2 Fuel
1 0 0
Oil
0 2 Ghee
0 0 2
Mussalah
0 0 2 Fuel
1 0 0
Ghee
0 0 2
Fuel
1 0 0
In full and half diets dall and ghee given for 15 days in the month, and the other 15 days fish, meat, oil, and vegetable.
They were found to be sufficient.