CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
15
of this is obvious and well recognized by others who have to deal with this class
of cases, but it differs widely from some of the clamorous statements that have
lately been promulgated on the subject.
58. The subjoined statement has been prepared to show the number of
sick treated daily in the several hospitals and the money spent in treating
them, irrespective of outlay which is not connected with hospital administra-
tion. The final column shows the total cost to Government, including all
charges. To the best of my belief these figures are correct, subject only to
additions in some institutions for printed papers obtained from the Stationery
Office, which in others are received from the Medical Stores and charged here.
No charge is entered in any hospital for stationery of any kind, as no accounts
are received.
STATEMENT NO. IX
Showing the work and the cost of working in the several Medical Institutions.
AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.
C o s t o f
e s t a b l i s h m e n t e x - c l u d i n g c o m m i s s i o n e d o f f i c e r s .
,
C o s t o f E n g l i s h a n d b a z a r
m e d i c i n e s .
C o s t o f d i e t s , e x t r a s , a n d s t i m u l a n t s .
0 '
M i s c e l l a n e o u s c h a r g e s .
T o t a l e x p e n d i t u r e o n t h e
s i c k .
E x p e n d e d b y G o v e r n m e n t ,
i n c l u s i v e o f b u i l d i n g
c h a r g e s .
In-patients.
Out-patients.
All races.
E u r o p e a n s a n d
E u r a s i a n s .
N a t i v e s .
T o t a l .
E u r o p e a n s a n d
E u r a s i a n s .
N a t i v e s .
T o t a l .
I n - p a t i e n t s .
O u t - p a t i e n t s .
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Medical College Hospital
(including Eye Infirm-
ary )
131
162
293
....
421
421
293
421 (1)48,343
13,761
30,884
11,576
1,04,564 (1)1,00,933
General
Hospital...
...
1 3 4 ...... . .
134
......
134 ......
2 4 , 4 9 8
6,137
23,908
4,928
59,471
3 3 , 4 2 2
Campbell
ditto
•••
......
404
404
404
......
23,692
4,210
24,086
7,322
59,320
36,912
-
Police
ditto ...
...
......
93
96
96
5,207
587
6,112
934
12,840
2,877
Mayo
ditto
...
......
94
91
......
1,476
1,476
94
1,476
27,538
5,513
5,611
11,651
50,313
36,974
Hospital
Howrah General Hospital
27
43
70
16
118
134
70
1 3 4
11,050
1,433
5,498
4,316
22,297 (2)15,304
(1)—This includes Rs. 12,000 debitable to'hospital as salaries of two resident commissioned officers who are in excess of hospital staff of other
institutions. Of this amount, Rs. 6,000 only was entered in the returns and the financial statement.
(2)—Including a special grant of Rs. 10,501 for building.
59. The evidence of the foregoing figures and paragraphs may be
summarised as follows.
The cost of the Medical College Hospital is exceedingly large, both
absolutely and proportionally. The relation of its expenditure in 1879 to 1878
is that more money was spent on diets in 1879 in the European ward, though
pure European patients were much less numerous. Native diets cost less
in 1879 than in 1878, though considerably more than in any other hospital.
The cost of medical stores rose largely, as did that of miscellaneous items, for
neither of which does any sufficient reason appear. Disbursements to patients
from special endowments reached thrice the amount of 1878, though the class
of persons for whose benefit they were intended was less numerous. Income
from the Port Fund was reduced by absence of seamen.
60. At the General Hospital expenditure on establishment was reduced.
It is high nevertheless for the number of patients. The charge for medicines
fell considerably even from the greatly reduced charge of 1878, and the fall
was great in proportion to the fall in numbers. Diets cost much less in 1879,
and miscellaneous charges were also reduced. Income from the Port Fund
rose from Rs. 47,485 in 1878 to Rs. 52,637 in 1879; that from paying-patients
was increased from Rs. 7,095 to Rs. 8,311. Miscellaneous receipts added
Rs. 293 in 1879.
61. In the Campbell Hospital establishment cost somewhat more in 1879
for the reason given, and for the same reason there was a small addition to
the diet charge. Excluding the European small-pox ward, this latter charge
was less than 1878. The great reduction on earlier years was fully main-
tained. The charge for medical stores fell in large proportion to the total.
Miscellaneous charges increased in the variable item of clothing, and decreased
in all other items. The income from the Calcutta Municipality is fixed.
In 1879 income was first derived from payment by patients. It amounted to
Rs. 1,201, and with miscellaneous receipts composed a total of Rs. 2,219.