20
REPORT ON THE
in the cost of Europe medicines was Rs. 1,182-7, which is mainly accounted
for by many new and costly instruments having been obtained for the Eden
Hospital and the Eye Infirmary, and by the larger expenditure of water proof
sheeting. The expenditure on diet shows an increase of Rs. 396-5-1, which is
attributed to the higher contract rates Miscellaneous charges rose from
Rs. 22,125-14-1 in 1888 to Rs. 30,683-0-5 in 1889, the increase being mainly
due to the renewal of the unserviceable bedding and clothing of the Medical
College and Eden Hospitals, and to the payment of the bills for rates and
taxes for the last quarter of 1888. Buildings and repairs show a decrease of
Rs. 13,485. Nothing was invested in 1889. The total expenditure in 1888,
exclusive of the building charges and the amount invested,was 1,11,848.0.7,
but in 1889 it was Rs. 1,24,044-5.
65. Choonee Lal Seal’s Dispensary, which has an annual income of Rs. 2,000,
shows a decrease in the expenditure under the heads of Europe medicines
and miscellaneous charges. Bazar medicines show a very slight increase.
Rs. 10 were expended on buildings and repairs.
66. Presidency General Hospital .—The total income from Government
shows a decrease of Rs. 11,391-0-8, which was caused by less expenditure
on buildings and repairs. The total income from local sources rose from
Rs. 40,635-8 in 1888 to Rs. 43,483-14-8 in 1889, the increase being chiefly due
to larger number of paying patients having been treated. The cost of estab-
lishment shows a reduction of Rs. 1,044-4 9, which was caused by the
smaller salary drawn by the Surgeon Superintendent throughout the year, and
by the complement of apothecaries having been short for a great part
of it. Bazar medicines show an increase of Rs. 80 6-6, which is accounted for
by the larger number of patients in 1889. The same cause is assigned for
the increase in the diet charges, which amounted to Rs. 31,519-13-1, against
Rs. 30,231-5-10 in 1888. The increase of Rs. 3,627-6 under the head of Europe
medicines is explained to have been due to a large stock of the same havin
g b e e n o b t a i n e d i n 1 8 8 9 . M i s c e l l a n e o u s c h a r g e s s h o w a n i n c r e a s e o f R s . 1 , 5 8 8 - 1 4 - 2 ,
owing to the purchase of clothing. The expenditure on buildings amounted
to Rs. 9,924, against Rs. 24,123-11-5 in 1888. Deducting the amount
expended on buildings and repairs from the figures of both years, the total
expenditure was Rs. 1,06,998-9-8, against Rs. 1,01,457-12-6 in 1888.
67. Mayo Institutions .—The income from Government remained unchanged.
The total income from local sources increased by Rs. 2,469-2 in 1889, the in--
crease being due to the legacy of Rs. 2,500 received from Kumars Nil Krishna
and Binoy Krishna. Diet charges rose from Rs. 6,485-0-9 in 1888 to Rs. 7,230-7-9
in 1889. The increase is explained to have been partly caused by articles of
food having been dearer, and partly to fuller diet having been given to several
patients who particularly required it, viz., in cases of pneumonia, compound
fracture, &c. The increase in the miscellaneous charges of Rs. 736-7-7 is
said to have been mainly due to the enhancement of the municipal rates and to
the purchase of some furniture at the Chandney Hospital. Building charges
fell very much in the year 1889, there having been fewer repairs to do in
that year. Establishment charges fell by Rs. 260-8-6, owing to the pay-
ment of two months’ privilege leave allowance to the Medical Officer of the
Sukea’s Street Dispensary in 1888, which was not repeated in 1889. The cost
of bazar medicines showed a decrease of Rs. 117 due to lesser quantity of
country medicines supplied. There was a diminution of Rs. 756.2 under the
head of Europe medicines, attributable chiefly to “irrigators and surgical
instruments” having been obtained in 1888. The amount invested was
Rs. 2,500. The cash balance at the end of the year was Rs. 458.
68. The Calcutta Municipality contributed nothing towards the cost of
the Mayo Institutions, though it was relieved in 1889 of all charges for the
Calcutta Police and the Police Hospital. The Government contributed more
than 60 per cent. of the expenditure, and it is time, I think, to consider
whether the Calcutta Municipality should not now relieve Government of its
contributions towards these medical charities of the city, seeing how much
its expenditure has been diminished in the matter of the Police charges and
the cost of the Police Hospital.
69. Campbell Hospital.—The total cost to Government for this hospital
in 1889 increased very considerably. The increase is represented by