13
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
fell the more heavily on 1879. Other miscellanies were less costly than before,
with the exception of books and forms, the expenditure on which is included
under this head. A sum of Rs. 394 is also included, having been expended
from the "compound " fund after remittance to the treasury. For buildings
and repairs the charge for 1879 exceeded that for 1878 by Rs. 3,657. It is
evident that the increase of expenditure in this hospital was unavoidable. The
Public Works charges alone showed a greater increment than the total charges.
This was partly counterbalanced by reduction of those charges with which
hospital management is chiefly concerned.
45. Police Hospital.—The expenses of this hospital are defrayed from
the Police Fund. It would be correct to enter under the head of income the
proportion paid by the municipality to that fund. The only other item to
be mentioned here is a sum of Rs. 24, realised by sale of grass from the
compound. The total contribution of Government was Rs. 2,877, after deduct
-
ing Rs. 24, and regarding five-sixths of the remainder as received from the town.
The corresponding amount in 1878 was Rs. 2,980, and in 1877 was Rs. 5,329.
46. The cost of establishment in 1879 was in excess of that of 1878 by
Rs. 107. The resident assistant surgeon drew Rs. 175 per mensem for the
entire year, and for part of the previous year had drawn Rs. 150. On bazar
medicines Rs. 38 were spent in 1879. In 1878 the charge was Rs. 93, and
Rs. 416 in 1877. English medicines cost Rs. 549, against Rs. 973 in 1878, and
Rs. 1,777 in 1877. The diet charge amounted to Rs. 6,112, to Rs. 7,215 in
1878, and Rs. 10,294 in 1877. The diet scale was increased during the year by
the addition of 4 chittacks of flour. There was reduction both of total admis
-
sions to hospital and of average daily sick. Old and inefficient men had been
discharged from the force, and due care exercised in the selection of recruits.
The general health of the year had also its effect. Miscellaneous items cost
Rs. 934 in 1879 and Rs. 566 only in 1878. In 1877 the amount was Rs. 2,512.
In 1878 no new clothing was required; in 1879 this item was Rs. 548. Contin
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gencies proper fell from Rs. 566 in 1878 to Rs. 386 in 1879. Building charges
rose from Rs. 331 in 1878 to Rs. 844 in 1879. The hospital was thoroughly
repaired in 1879, and masonry drains constructed in the compound. The
recent administration of this hospital has been advantageous alike to the force
and the funds.
47. Mayo Hospital and dispensaries.—The invested capital of this hospital
appears as Rs. 3,32,400, or Rs. 10,000 in excess of the sum last returned, a dona
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tion having been received and funded. The floating balance appears as
Rs. 639, against Rs. 381 in 1878.
48. The total amount received from Government was Rs. 36,974. This
exceeds the charge for 1878 by Rs. 608, the exact difference of recorded cost of
medicines, forms, and registers between the two years. This cost is rightly
given from the Medical Examiner's returns for 1879, after deduction of credits.
For 1878 an estimate only was given of Rs. 6,000. The true charge as now
ascertained, deducting credits, was Rs. 5,918 in 1878.
49. Income entered as derived from local and other funds in 1879 was
nominal, being Rs. 2-8-0 only, against Rs. 450 in 1878. From invested funds
interest has fallen from Rs. 17,974 to Rs. 17,066 by conversion of five into four
p e r c e n t . p a p e r . T h e r e w a s a l s o l o s s o f i n c o m e i n 1 8 7 9 f r o m s u b s c r i p t i o n s .
Europeans in 1878 had contributed Rs. 5,350, and gave in 1879 only Rs. 2,371.
Native subscriptions appeared in 1878 as Rs. 12,145, and in 1879 as Rs. 3,350,
including a donation of Rs. 1,500. The former figure doubtless includes
the donation of Rs. 10,000 mentioned above; so that the true loss on regular
subscriptions from natives was Rs. 295.
50. The cost of establishment in 1879 exceeded that of 1878 by
Rs. 270, which is unexplained in the report. Bazar medicines showed increase
of Rs. 176. English medicines and miscellaneous charges of the Store Depart
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ment amounted to Rs. 6,608, after due deduction for credits in 1879,
against Rs. 5,918 in 1878; an increase of Rs. 690. The large proportion
which the cost of registers and forms bears to the cost of drugs and instru
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ments will attract the attention of Government, and probably recall a commu
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nication which I addressed to your office some months ago on this subject,
and recent orders for a reform of the system of supplying these papers.