25
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
home. Fevers were much less prevalent in 1880 than the preceding year,
there being 686 cases against 994. There were only 21 cases of cholera
admitted, being the lowest number on record since 1864, and the number of
deaths was 13 against 25 in 1879, and is also the lowest recorded mortality
since 1864. There were 17 cases amongst seamen, and the largest number of
cases (six) as usual came from the Hastings moorings. Phthisis, which is a very
important factor in the causation of mortality at this hospital, caused 17 deaths
in 76 cases treated in 1880. Dysentery caused three deaths in 178 cases, against
200 cases and 13 deaths in 1879. Diarrhœa caused four deaths in 157 cases
treated, against 207 cases and 15 deaths in 1879. The occasions for major
operations among Europeans in India are not frequent. The operation per
-formed in the hospital were very few in number. There were one amputation of
the arm, one cataract operation, four tracheotomy cases, six tumours removed,
one amputation of finger, and several other operations of more or less import
-
ance. All important wounds and abscesses were treated antiseptically.
CAMPBELL HOSPITAL.
79. Surgeon-Major S. C. Mackenzie was in charge of the hospital through
-
out the year.
80. The admissions into hospital were 6,460 against 7,810 in 1879. The
decrease is attributed to reduced sickness in the year under review in the Town
and Suburbs, and to the fact that a portion of the hospital was closed for repairs.
The daily average number treated was slightly in excess of that of 1879,
being 404.51 against 403.85. Malarious fevers as usual were the most preva
-
lent diseases, of which 1,769 cases were treated against 2,349 in 1879. As in
1879, dysentery and diarrhœa appeared next in order of prevalence in 1880,
1,424 cases being admitted against 1,869 in 1879. While decrease in all
principal diseases is to be observed, the admission from phthisis in 1880 greatly
exceeded those of 1879, the numbers being 233 cases against 170. Small-pox
cases show a considerable reduction on 1879. There were admitted
10 Europeans and 76 Natives in 1880, against 57 Europeans and 231 Natives in
the previous year. From cholera 76 persons were admitted against 227 in 1879,
and the percentage of deaths was 57.89 against 63.44 in 1879. 127 major and
206 minor operations were performed during the year, against 110 and 271
respect i vel y i n 1879; and t he deat h-rat e i n 1880 was 13. 38 per cent . i n maj or
and 5.82 per cent. in minor operations, against 30 and 9.96 per cent. in 1879.
There were 18 obstetric cases treated with two deaths. The general death-rate
to total treated was 230 per 1,000 against 260 in 1879.
81.
Buildings.—The cook-house of the general wards needs improvement,
and an observation ward for exanthematous cases is also urgently needed.
82.
improvements.—The dirty tank has been obliterated. The hospital
building and compound were, as reported in 1879, lighted chiefly with kerosine
oil instead of gas and castor-oil, and a saving of Rs. 735 and Rs. 417 was
thereby effected, as compared with the expenditure of 1878 and 1879.
POLICE HOSPITAL.
83. Surgeon-Major S. C. Mackenzie was in charge of the hospital during
the year.
84. There was no change in the strength of the force. Admissions into
hospital numbered 2,625, or an increase of 39 over that of 1879. The ratio
of admissions to total strength was 929 per 1,000 against 916 in 1879, and
the daily average sick was 107 against 96 in 1879, the increase being
attributed to the larger number of admissions in the months of November and
December. The prevailing diseases were ague, dysentery, enlargement of
spleen and debility, and the number admitted in 1880 from these diseases
was less numerous than that of the previous year, except dysentery, which
exhibits an increase of 51 cases. There was also an increase of 12 cases
of dyspepsia and 4 of diarrhœa, 77 cases of venereal diseases were treated
against 100 cases in 1879. There were six cases of small-pox against seven in
1879. All the unprotected members of the police force were vaccinated during
March 1880 by the Vaccine Department. Cholera was the cause of 17 admis
-
sions, with eight deaths against nine and seven in 1879. Three cases were