CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
15
daily seeking. relief. I would suggest a female and children department being
added to the Chooney Lal Seal Dispensary, or, what would be a far better plan,
build an entirely separate dispensary for women and children along-side
the present dispensary, but to the south of it, where the space is ample
and available.
45.
Obstetric practice.— The total number of Europeans treated in the Eden
Hospital during 1886, was 957 with 28 deaths. The corresponding figures for
1885, were 1,064 with 35 deaths. Of natives, including children, there were
584 treated in 1886, against 511 in 1885, with 32 deaths in the latter and 40
deaths in the former year. The total treated of both races was 1,541 with
68 deaths against 1,575 with 67 deaths in 1885.
46. There were 445 confinements with 17 deaths in 1886. The corre-
sponding numbers for 1885 were 432 with 22 deaths, or a mortality of 3.82
per cent. against 5.09 in the latter year. This marked decrease in the death-
rate is highly satisfactory. Dr. Harvey writes :—" We have had the usual run
of bad cases admitted after many hours or days of labour." We cannot, as I
have before remarked, expect a low death-rate in a hospital of this description.
As Dr. Harvey intimates, many native women are admitted into the Eden Hos-
pital in a hopeless state. There was only one death from septic disease in the
year, which, Dr. Harvey states, " was a clear case of antesepsis. "
47. The major operations performed in the Eden Hospital during 1886
were 153 against 89 in 1885. The minor operations were 312 against 122
in the latter year.
48. Forty-nine women were delivered instrumentally with 8 deaths.
The causes of death were as follows :—
Fever and debility
...
...
...
. . .
1
Pleurisy ...
.....
...
...
. . .
1
Embolism
...
...
...
. . .
1
C o n v u l s i o n s . . . . . . .
. . .
1
Rupture of uterus and exhaustion
...
. . .
1
Tetanus ...
...
...
...
. . . 1
Exhaustion
...
...
...
. . .
1
Shock
..
...
...
...
. . .
1
Total
. . . 8
49. The Eden Hospital is admirably conducted. It is effecting a vast
amount of good, and is daily gaining in popularity among all classes of the
community.
50. The clothing, bedding, and reserve stocks of both the Medical College
and Eden Hospitals were completely renewed in the year. The washing in
both these large institutions is done by common native dhobies, and that it is
imperfectly done goes without saying. About three years ago the Hon’ble the
Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Rivers Thompson, promised to sanction the erection
of a steam-laundry for the conjoint use of both of these hospitals, but as
time passed funds for the purpose became less and less available. The
laundry is very greatly to be desired.
51. Ophthalmic practice.— In the ophthalmic wards of the Medical College
hospital 7,028 cases were treated during the year 1886, of which 185 had
remained from 1885, The in-patients were 423 as against 524 in the previous
year. In the out-patient department 6,605 persons were treated in 1886
against 6,436 in 1885, giving a daily average attendance of 108.40 against
104.28.
52. The total number of operations for cataract was 364. Of these 308
were cured, 12 relieved, 5 were " discharged otherwise," and 35 remained under
treatment at the end of 1886. The corresponding figures for 1885 were 453,
353, 38, 14 and 44.