16
REPORT ON THE
in regard to which the superintendent writes : "Early in the year cholera
broke out on several occasions among the patients in hospital. Some of
the persons attacked had been long enough in hospital to forbid suspicion
of their having brought the disease in with them. All ordinary precautions
were adopted, but every now and again a case would continue to crop up.
This state of affairs caused much anxiety, and having taken precautions
to render the purity of the milk above suspicion, "I determined," says
Dr. Birch, "after consultation with you to stop the supply of bazar butter
and milk. Consequently I abolished the contracts for these articles, and made
arrangements to keep cows in the hospital compound and to have them milked
daily under European supervision, utilizing convalescent patients for the
purpose. I further, from that time, purchased only European or New Zealand
tinned butter. We have had no cholera occurring in the wards since March last.
I do not mean to argue that these changes in management have been the un-
doubted cause, but it is remarkable that there has been immunity since the new
order of things. But our expenses have been very materially increased by the
changes indicated.
75.
Establishment.—The Superintendent reports very favourably on
Mr. J. Fleming, the assistant apothecary, who left the hospital on promotion
to the house surgeoncy of the Eden sanitarium at Darjeeling, and on the whole
subordinate medical staff.
CAMPBELL HOSPITAL.
76. Surgeon-Major F. C. Nicholson officiated in charge of the hospital
from 1st January to 9th April, on which date he was relieved by Surgeon-Major
S. C. Mackenzie on his return from furlough, who continued in charge till the
end of the year.
77. The number of admissions into the hospital was 5,132 against 5,290 in
1882, or less by 158 patients. The daily average number of patients treated
was 339 against 350 in 1882. For small-pox 11 Europeans and 92 natives were
treated against 4 and 21 in 1882. Of the 92 cases of natives admitted, 73 were
from Calcutta and its suburbs and 13 were from the port. There was only 1
death in 11 cases of Europeans and 34 in 92 cases of natives. There were
treated 188 cases of cholera against 186 and 132 in 1882 and 1881, and the
numbers of deaths were 127,134 and 79 respectively. The total number of
death was 1,287 to compare with 1,405 in 1882, or fewer by 118 deaths, and
the percentage on the total treated was 23.4 against 24.7 in 1882.
78. The true death-rate of the hospital per 1,000, excluding cholera and
mor i bund cases, was 191 agai nst 204 and 206 i n 1882 and 1881. Mor i bund cases,
excluding cholera, numbered 192 against 191 in 1882. One hundred and forty-
three cases of major operations were treated during the year, of which 134 were
new. The number of minor operations performed was 300 against 226 in 1882.
The death-rate was 5.9 per cent. after major operations against 10 per cent.
in 1882 and .32 per cent. after minor operations against 1.2 per cent. There
were 18 obstetric cases treated in the hospital against 17 in 1882 with no death.
79. There was no change in the diet scale of the hospital. There was a
slight increase of cost under the head of stimulants, owing to the greater number
of Europeans in the small-pox ward and low cases admitted during the year
compared with previous years. A new cook-house was built during the year,
but the superintendent reports that "until some proper arrangements have
been made to remove the cooking utensils from the range, it cannot be used.
The matter is now under the consideration of the public works department."
Another pucca cook-house is said to be urgently required for small-pox ward.
The new pucca temporary ward which was buillt during the year will be occu-
pied as soon as the drainage and water-supply for it is finished. Special wards
f o r t h e a c c o m m o d a t i o n o f s u r g i c a l a n d o b s t e t r i c c a s e s a n d s o m e s e p a r a t e
rooms to segregate special cases are said to be still required. The roads of the
compound were thoroughly repaired during the year, and the compound around
the apothecary's quarters was drained. The land around the small-pox ward is
said to require levelling and drainage. Lighting and conservancy arrange-
ments were the same as in previous years.