CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
9
who could not be classed with these. There were 267 confinements with 20
deaths in 1882. The
number in 1881 was 245. Concerning the deaths in the
obstetric wards it is recorded that there were 6 Europeans and 21 natives
in a moribund state on admission.
26. The Eden hospital was occupied on 17th July 1882. It offers
accommodation to 41 Europeans and 42 natives. Into the old wards 24 of the
former and 12 of the latter could be received. During the first-half of the
year there was a daily average number of 30.9 house-patients. During the
rest of the year the number was 43.3.
27.
The excellent private accommodation of the new hospital is likely
to be much appreciated. A sum of Rs. 3,018 was received from patients
between July and December.
28. The establishment of the hospital has been the subject of much con
sideration. It has been based hitherto on a scheme laid down by Dr. Charles,
which provided that the nursing should be done by the class of civil and
military pupil midwives, with a head and a second midwife or matron.
There were some mistakes of system at the outset, and the nursing was not
satisfactory. An attempt was made, with the sanction of Government, to
rectify this, by placing all the nurses under the control of the resident sister
who took up her quarters in the building, and re-adjusting the establishment,
but the basis of pupil nursing was retained. It has been found lately that this
is wrong. The bedside work of a large hospital cannot be left dependent on a
class who are merely learning to nurse, and whose members are removed as
soon as they become qualified to earn a living for themselves. Some fixed
establishment is indispensable, less than would be required if there were no
pupils, but enough to enable the sister to carry on the work under all fluctua
tions. A scheme framed with this object is in course of preparation for
submission to Government. It will be considered satisfactory, I think, that
the Eden hospital, with imperfect nursing and other disadvantages inseparable
from a commencement, should have already given evidence of having met
a public want.
29.
The system of civil and military nurses was inaugurated during the
year, but not very successfully. The intentions of Government had been
misunderstood and due control had not been provided. There were other
serious defects which threatened to frustrate altogether the objects of the
scheme. A system has lately been organized, with the approval of Govern
ment, which will ensure the fulfilment of its intention, if women are forth
-coming as pupils in sufficient numbers.
30.
Ophthalmic hospital — I n t h i s h o s p i t a l 5 0 1 i n - d o o r a n d 7 , 7 9 2 o u t - d o o r
patients were treated in 1882 to compare with 608 and 6,606 in the previous
year. The number of operations performed in 1882 was 275 against 352 in
1881. There were 200 persons cured by operation and 28 relieved. There
had remained from the previous year 36 cases of operation under treatment.
There was no death in 1882 among this group, and 33 cases remained at the
end of the year.
31. The wards in the main building of the college hospital, which were
vacated in July by the obstetric patients, have been altered in such a manner as
to admit of the transfer of the ophthalmic establishment from the separate
house. The transfer has been effected from 1st April last.
STATEMENT No. VIII.
Account of invested capital for the year 1882.
Balance on
1st January.
Invested
during the
y e a r .
Total.
Securities
sold.
Deposits
withdrawn.
Balance on
31st Decem-
ber
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Rs.
Medical college
hospital
College hospital
...
1,13,300
......
1,13,300
. . . . . .
. . . . . . 1,13,300
Choonee Lal Seal's dispensary ......
50,000
. . . . . .
50,000
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
50,000
General hospital
. . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
3 , 4 2 , 4 0 0
Mayo ditto
...
3,37,400
5,000
3,42,400
. . . . . .
. . . . . . 3,42,400
Campbell ditto
...
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
Municipal police hospital
...
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . .
Howrah hospital
. . .
34,000
5,000
39,000
1,000
. . . . . .
3 8 , 0 0 0
Total
. . .
5 , 3 4 , 7 0 0
10,000
5,44 ,70 0
1,000
......
5 , 4 3 , 7 0 0