22
REPORT ON THE
true death-rate per 1,000, excluding cholera and moribund cases, was 206
against 204 in 1880. The number of moribund cases admitted into the hos
-pital in 1881 was 175 against 196 and 265 in the two preceding years.
There were 132 cases of major operation treated in the year, whereof 122
were new. 261 minor operations were performed against 207 in 1880. The
death-rate was 9 per cent. in major operations, and 1.4 per cent. in minor
operations against 13.3 and 5.2. There were 11 obstetric cases with 2 deaths
against 18 and 2 in 1880. The two women who died during the year under
review are said to have been brought into hospital in an exhausted and mori
-bund state, and succumbed a few hours after admission.
89. It was thought desirable to increase variety in the diet-scale during
t h e y e a r . Dr . Ma c k e n z i e , t h e r e f o r e , i n t r o d u c e d a n e w s c a l e , wh i c h , a f t e r a
careful trial of several months, has been favourably reported on by the medical
officers.
90. The cook-house of the general wards still remains in an unsatisfac
- t o r y s t a t e , n o i m p r o v e m e n t s b e i n g e f f e c t e d d u r i n g t h e y e a r . T h e c o o k - h o u s e
attached to the small-pox ward is a bamboo and mat shed, which should be
replaced by a good masonry building. The hospital accommodation was
found to be sufficient with one exception. This was an observation ward,
which is urgently needed for exanthematous cases, and will shortly be pro
- v i d e d . T h e d r a i n a g e o f t h e c o m p o u n d i s s t i l l d e f e c t i v e . T h e h o s p i t a l a n d
compound were, as usual, lighted with kerosine oil lamps.
POLICE HOSPITAL.
91. Surgeon-Major S. C. Mackenzie was in charge of the hospital through
-out the year.
92. The strength of the police force was 2,806 in 1881 against 2,823
of the previous year. There were 2,589 admissions into the hospital against 2,625
in 1880, and 2,586 in 1879. The ratio of admissions to total strength was
922 per 1,000 against 929 in 1880. The daily average number treated was 98
in 1881 against 107 in the preceding year. The prevailing diseases were ague,
dysentery, bronchitis, enlarged spleen, and dyspepsia. The admissions from
these diseases show a reduction over those of 1880, except in the cases of
dysentery and bronchitis, which exhibit an increase of 103 and 8 cases
respectively. Seventy cases of venereal disease were treated during the year
against 77 in 1880. Small-pox occurred in 5 cases, of which 4 were cured
and 1 remained in the hospital at the close of the year. All the unprotected
members of the police were vaccinated during the months of January and
December by the Vaccine Department. Cholera caused 4 deaths in 14 cases
against 8 in 17 in 1880. These were brought into the hospital in a moribund
condition, and died within 24 hours of admission.
93. The total number of deaths during the year was 35 against 30,
36, 31, and 63 in the four preceding years. The death-rate on admissions was
1.3, and on total strength of the force was 1.2 per cent. against 1.1 and 1.0
in 1880. The slight increase was due principally to remittent fever, from
which 14 persons died in 1881 against 3 in the previous year.
94. The hospital buildings, compound, and drains are in good order.
Two masonry bathing platforms, two platforms for cleaning utensils, and a
urinal, were erected in the compound during the year.
MAYO HOSPITAL.
95. Surgeon-Major H. Cayley was in charge of the hospital from 1st
January to 22nd July and from 21st October to the end of the year. Surgeon-
Major R. C. Sanders officiated from 23rd July to 22nd October.
96. There were 1,819 in-door patients treated during the year, with a
daily average of 91. The corresponding numbers in 1880 were 1863 and 87.
The total number of deaths was 299, or 16.4 per cent., against 285, or 15.3 per
cent., in 1880. The most fatal disease was cholera, with 83 deaths in 160
cases, or 51.8 per cent. The disease was more than usually prevalent during
the year. Thirty-two persons died from fever in 326 cases; there was one case
of fever which presented all the characters of true typhoid, Pneumonia and lung
disease were fatal in 34 cases out of 114. From diarrhœa and dysentery there
were 39 deaths in 167 admissions, many of the persons being almost moribund