16
REPORT ON THE
62. The cost of the Police Hospital was much reduced in 1879, not
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withstanding dietary and other improvements. The income is a fixed propor
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tion paid by the Municipality and a small sum realised by sale of grass.
63. At the Mayo Hospital and its dependencies charges increased
in all items affected by management. Income from private sources fell, and
Government expenditure rose by additional cost of medical stores.
64. The Howrah Hospital shows reduced cost under all ordinary heads
of charge. Income increased from all private sources except subscriptions,
which fell. Government expenditure rose under a special grant for building,
but was otherwise lower than before.
65. I append short summaries of the several reports according to custom,
omitting many particulars which have already been presented.
MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL.
66.Dr. D. B. Smith was in charge of this hospital during the year.
Dr. W. J. Palmer left on furlough on 3rd April 1879, and Dr. McLeod was
appointed to officiate as Second Surgeon. Dr. E. Lawrie, Resident Surgeon, left
the hospital for a district appointment in March, and Dr. Mullen took the vacant
place in May. Dr. S. B. Partridge retired from the service on 31st December.
Dr. McLeod then became First Surgeon and Dr. D. Raye officiated as Second
Surgeon.
67. The general death-rate of all races was 130 per 1,000, against
135, 108, 136, 152, and 125 in the preceding five years. Excluding moribunds
the rate was 93 to compare with 111, 91, 103, 128, and 95. The comparison
here is just; but if made with other hospitals, is subject to correction as shown
in the body of the report.
68. Male European patients died at the rate of 57 per 1,000 treated,
against 63 in 1878; females 39, against 55. Of Eurasians 79 males died per 1,000,
against 59 in 1878, and 31 females against 80. Of natives 201 per 1,000
males, against 230 in 1878, and 129 females against 183.
69. Dr. Smith draws attention to the number of male Europeans treated
as greatly reduced by the reception of nearly all seamen from the port into
the General Hospital. The number in 1879 was 380 only, against 867 in
the previous year. This made the general death-rate of the College Hospital
appear higher in comparison than it really was in 1879.
70. The total number of medical and surgical out-door patients treated
in 1879 was 74,318. The total number of new cases treated was 28,661, to
compare with 27,083 in 1878.
71. The number of patients in the obstetric ward was slightly below
that of 1878, but above those of the previous four years. The number of
out-patients in this department was an usual one.
72. In the ophthalmic hospital and out-patient room also usual numbers
were treated.
73. In the total out-patient practice of the hospital new patients treated
in 1879 exceeded by upwards of 2,000 the number in 1878, and showed larger
excess over the numbers of the four preceding years.
74. Nurses.—Dr. Smith considers that the nursing establishment of the
College Hospital was more efficient in 1879 than in former years. He observed
improvement in the capabilities of several of the older nurses, while their
conduct was at all times good. Those newly entertained Dr. Smith thinks to
be in many respects more suitable persons than were obtained in former days.
He expresses on behalf of himself and the hospital staff warm acknowled
g -
ments of the "interest and trouble which the ladies of the committee have
taken to ensure the efficiency" of the nurses.
7 5 .
D h a i e s
. — S i x
n a t i v e d h a i e s p a s s e d e x a m i n a t i o n i n 1 8 7 9 a n d r e c e i v e d
diplomas. Six others are now attending in the lying-in department.
76. Building improvements .—During the year a portion of the ground
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floor of the hospital was altered for the reception of cases of delirium tremens,
and the lighting of the operating theatre was much improved. A large space
of ground was purchased and cleared for a new obstetric hospital, nurses'
quarters, and contagious disease wards. The late Baboo Choonee Lal Seal
having made a bequest to Government of Rs. 12,000 for the erection of a