CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
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107. There was some change in the diet scale of the hospital. There was
an increase of cost under the heads of diets and extras, owing to a larger number
of patients having been treated during the year under review than in 1883.
The slight increase in the cost of diet per patient, per diem, was due to a
larger number of cases of small-pox requiring milk and other extras having
been admitted during the year than during the previous year.
108. Dr. Mackenzie reports that the alterations required in the new
cook-house built for the hospital during 1883 were not finished by the Public
Works Department until the end of 1884. A new pucca cook-house for the
small-pox wards was commenced during the year, and will be finished early
in 1885. The accommodation in the general wards was the same as in the
previous year. Extensive additions and alterations were sanctioned during the
year for the European and Native small-pox wards of the hospital; a portion
of them is to be finished before the end of the financial year 1884-85, and the
remaining portion is to be undertaken during the official year 1885-86. Special
wards for the accommodation of surgical and obstetric cases, and some separate
rooms to segregate special cases, are said to be still required, but on account of
funds not being available the works have had to be kept in abeyance.
109. The land around the small-pox wards is said to require levelling and
drainage. Lighting and conservancy arrangements were the same as in
previous years.
CALCUTTA POLICE HOSPITAL.
110. Surgeon-Major S. C. Mackenzie, M.D., was in charge of the hospital
throughout the year.
111. The strength of the police force in 1884 was 2,827 against 2,801 in
the preceding year. Admissions into hospital numbered 2,079 against 2,231
in 1883 and 2,394 in 1882. This shows a decrease of 152 admissions as
compared with that of the previous year, and of 315 with that of 1882.
The steady improvement in the general health of the police force noticed
last year thus continues. The ratio of admissions to total strength per
1,000 was 735 in 1884 against 796 and 853 in the two preceding years. The
daily average number of sick in 1884 was 82 against 85 and 83 in 1883 and
1882, respectively, thus shewing a decrease of 3 during the year as com--
pared with 1883. The prevailing diseases during the year were ague, dysen
-tery, and venereal affections. There were 110 cases of venereal disease
admitted against 99. There were only 2 cases of small-pox among the
native members of the police force. Of these one case was of the discrete
and the other of the modified variety. The disease occurred during the
month of February. All the unprotected constables of the police were
vaccinated during the months of November and December by the officers of
the Vaccine Department.
112. There were 10 cases of cholera admitted into hospital against
18 in 1883. Of these 10 patients, 4, or 40 per cent., died, while during the
previous year 50 per cent. succumbed.
113. The total number of deaths during the year was 24 against 28, 33,
and 35 in the three preceding years. The percentage of deaths to admissions
being 1.1 against 1.2 in 1883. The ratio of deaths to total strength was .84 in
1884 against .99 per cent. in the previous year.
114. The hospital buildings and its conservancy arrangements were in
the same good order throughout the year as reported before. It is reported that
"a new pucca dead-house was erected in the compound, to replace the old
Wooden dead-cart of the hospital, which had become rotten and useless." A
new pucca godown was also built to contain the hospital clothing and bedding,
and the old clothes godown was converted into a guard-room for the native
officer and the police guards attached to the hospital. The compound of the
hospital was in good order.
115. There was no special hospital for the European members of the
force. Those who suffered from trivial complaints were treated in their
barracks by the Police Surgeon, while those who required to go to hospital
were transferred to the General Hospital for treatment.