22
REPORT ON THE
HOWRAH GENERAL HOSPITAL.
100. Surgeon-Major J. G. Pilcher was in charge of the hospital from 1st
January to 13th March, and from 17th October to the close of the year.
Surgeon-Major H. B. Purves officiated in the intermediate period.
101. The total number of persons treated in the hospital during the past
year was 12,616, of whom 3,970 were Europeans and 8,646 were natives.
The corresponding numbers in 1881 were 14,151, 4,431, and 9,720 respectively.
In-door patients numbered 1,604, of whom 669 were Europeans and 935 natives,
against 670 and 970 in 1881. Of the 11,012 out-patients in 1882, 3,301 were
Europeans and. 7,711 were natives, against 3,761 and 8,750 in the previous
year. The decrease is marked in the out-door attendance of natives, and
Dr. Pilcher attributes this to the greater healthiness of the season. Regarding
the European out-patients, the Superintendent remarks that "it is difficult to
keep an exact record of the number of patients who come for advice, and whose
circumstances permit them to purchase medicines. Many of these patients, who
do not obtain medicines from the charity, escape entry. The attendance
of European and East Indian out-patients was not at all less than in previous
years." He adds that "the principle that the charity has the largest claim
for support from those who make use of it has been kept in view ; and though
no case of real sickness, which required close watching and nursing, was refused
admittance, care was taken to exclude those who go from hospital to hospital,
and would impose upon a charity of this kind." Three hundred and fifty-one
European seamen where treated, against 276 in 1881. There were eight women
confined in the hospital during the year.
102.
The following statement exhibits the daily average sick in 1882 and
in five preceding years. The register of patients has been more carefully
recorded from 1881 than in the previous years.
YEARS.
AVERAGE DAILY SICK.
EUROPEANS AND EAST INDIANS.
NATIVES.
In-door.
Out-door.
In-door.
Out-door.
1877
...
...
. . .
45.43
2 1 . 7 3
54.49
1 7 3 . 5 4
1878
...
...
. . .
3 8 . 8 5
13.52
5 6 . 0 7
2 0 3 . 5 5
1879...
...
...
2 7 . 3 5
16.37
4 3 . 4 5
1 1 7 . 8 8
1880
...
...
...
26.69
1 8 . 4 2
36.75
86.52
1881
...
...
...
26.52
15.27
3 6 . 6 8
9 5 . 1 5
1882
...
...
...
2 9 . 1
14.82
3 6 . 6 3
8 1 . 4
103.
The sickness and mortality in the year under review, and in four
preceding years, are exhibited in the following table :—
YEARS.
EUROPEANS AND EAST INDIANS.
NATIVES.
Treated.
Died
(in-door.)
Ratio per
1,000 of
deaths to
treated.
Treated.
Died
(in-door.)
Ratio per
1,000 of
deaths to
treated.
In. Out.
In.
Out.
1 8 7 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
828
4,100
4 6
55.55
1,674
16,305
5 8 0
346.47
1579 ... ... ... ... ...
594
3,876
33
53.87
1,176
14,400
391
332. 48
1880 ... ... ... ... ...
612
4 , 3 6 8
18
29.41
945
8.977
275
291.0
1881 ... ... ... ... ...
670
3,761
30
44.77
970
8 , 7 5 0
2 8 5
293.81
1882 ... ... ... ... ...
669
3,301
32
47.83
935
7,711
2 8 8
308.02
104. From cholera there were treated 132 cases with 73 deaths, against
69 and 36 in 1881. Dysentery caused 68 deaths against 62. From diarrhœa
there were fewer deaths in 1882 than 1881, viz. 90, against 107. Three
cases recorded as enteric fever were treated, but none proved fatal. From
fevers of all types 288 cases were treated with 25 deaths, against 352 and 19
in 1881. A very large proportion of deaths which occurred among native in-
patients was due to the hopelessly advanced stage in which municipal paupers
were sent to the hospital. The following statement exhibits the moribund and