26
REPORT ON THE
was due, it is explained, to replacements of some of the instruments which had
worn out. The cost of dieting articles rose from Rs. 4,251 in 1884 to Rs. 4,889 in
1885. The increase of Rs. 638 was due, it is said, "to a larger daily average
number of patients treated during 1885, to larger number of severe cases which
required extra nourishment, to the increase in the number of patients suffering from
venereal diseases who had to be fed on full diets, and to the prices of some of the
articles of diet having been higher during the year." The cost per head per diem
was 2 annas 4 pie against 2 annas 2 pie in 1884. Miscellaneous charges amounted
to Rs. 370 against Rs. 591. Building charges were less by Rs. 1,217 than
that of the previous year.
123. Excluding the cost of building and repairs, the gross expendi
-ture of this hospital amounted to Rs. 14,426, against Rs. 13,911 in 1884.
Of these sums, on establishment alone, Rs. 8,801 and Rs. 8,814, respectively,
were spent, amounts which in relation to the total expenditure and the daily
average sick appear certainly very disproportionate and large. It would seem,
therefore, that some reduction of expenditure is feasible here. The municipality,
however, pay nearly the whole of the cost ; and should the Government make
over the Campbell hospital and Mayo institutions to the Calcutta Municipality,
that body would no doubt consider whether it is desirable to keep up this police
hospital any longer at so large a cost, should they still continue to pay what
is known as "Police charges," or to abolish it, transferring the sick of the police
force together with their police hospital contributions to the several medical
institutions entrusted to their care. Similar considerations may weigh with
the Government if the "Police charges" be remitted to the municipalities and
the cost of this police hospital fall entirely upon Government. In my report
regarding the directions in which medical expenditure may be reduced, I did
not hint at any of the above suggestions for very obvious reasons. I only pointed
out since Government contributes towards the police hospital, that the
supervision of the institution may be given to an uncovenanted officer, making
it of course thereby less costly than it is at present.
124. Howrah Hospital.—There remained on 1st January 1885 an invested
capital of Rs. 42,000 in Government securities. Rs. 1,000 were invested
during the year. There remained at the end of the year an invested capital
of Rs. 43,000 and a cash balance of Rs. 2,054.
125. The income of the institution from private sources amounted to
Rs. 21,464, of which Rs. 5,447 were paid by the Port Trust for diet of sick seamen ;
Rs. 2,400 by the municipality ; Rs. 1,720 were obtained as interest on invested
funds, Rs. 11,771 were received as subscriptions from Europeans, and Rs. 126
from natives. Total income from these sources in the two preceding years was
Rs. 21,292 and Rs. 22,674. Government contributed Rs. 4,669, against
Rs. 4,413 in 1884, which consisted of the following items, viz., salaries, registers
and forms, diet of police cases, and special allowances.
126. The total expenditure amounted to Rs. 24,143, against Rs. 25,499 in
the previous year. Building charges in 1885 were Rs. 857 against Rs. 1,512 in
1884. Deducting these charges the actual amount spent on sick was Rs. 23,286,
against Rs. 23,987 in 1884.
127. The expenditure on establishment was Rs. 11,598, or in excess of that
the previous year by Rs. 175. The increase was due, it is explained, to the
employment of a dresser in the native ward and a compounder in European depart-
ment. Bazar medicines cost Rs. 675 against Rs. 462 in 1884. The increase
under this head was due, it is said, to more patients having been treated in 1885.
Rupees 1,381 were expended on Europe medicines against Rs. 568 in 1884.
Dr Pilcher explains the increase as follows :—"The medicines for the second
half year of 1884 were not received in 1884, and three half years' charges for
European medicines had to be included in 1885," The expenditure on diet
was Rs. 6,249 against Rs. 6,681 in 1884, showing a decrease of Rs. 432.
The average cost of each diet among Europeans, was 7 annas 11 pie, and
among natives 2 annas 1 pie, as compared with 8 annas 3 pie and 2 annas 3 pie,
respectively in 1884. Miscellaneous charges were less than those of the
previous year by Rs. 1,469. Percentage of total cost paid by Government was
Rs. 19.33 against Rs. 17.3 in 1884.