cholera" as an illustration of what may be effected by improved sanitary
surroundings. This, if it be a fact of permanent duration, is an important
piece of evidence, but though the statement may be broadly true, it is certainly
subject to a considerable number of exceptions. Dysentery and diarrhœa
were somewhat more prevalent than in the previous year, but the rate of
mortality from these causes was less. Malarial fever was slightly less preva-
lent among the indoor patients treated during 1891 than in 1890, the figures
for the two years being 4,235 and 4,366 respectively. The number of deaths
from this cause was, however, heavier than in the previous year, the figures
being 39.8 against 289. The number of cases of venereal diseases treated at
the hospitals declined from 12,326 in 1890 to 11,866 in 1891. The difference
is, however, too small to warrant the opinion that these diseases are less
prevalent now than they were before. A comparison with the figures of previ-
ous years would have been useful, but the Inspector-General explains in
paragraph 23 of the report that no comparison can be made with the preva-
lence of the disease previous to 1890, as in that year the nomenclature was
changed. If so, a grave responsibility rests on those authorities who by a
change in nomenclature have obscured statistics important to science. The
number of cases of leprosy treated during the year was 134, of which 122 were
admitted into the Campbell Hospital. Before such cases are admitted into this
hospital in future, it should be ascertained whether no accommodation can be
found for them in the Leper Asylum. There were 26 cases of enteric fever
under treatment during the year, of which 9 proved fatal. This is the highest
number on record since 1877. Experience shows that it is confined chiefly to
Europeans.
The number of important surgical operations performed during the year
was 2,221 against 2,080 in 1890. The revised classification prescribed by the
Government of India was adopted in 1891, with the result that some institutions
returned a larger number of major operations than before, while others returned
less. This is shown in the cases of the Mayo and Medical College Hospitals,
where the number of major operations are placed at 451 and 1,235 respectively,
against 189 and 1,447 in 1890. Changes in classification which produce
such results as this may be necessary, but they are very inconvenient, pre-
venting the possibility of comparing the work of one year with another.
The number of minor operations was 20,275 against 19,956. Death ensued
in 107 against 88 of the cases in which major operations were performed,
giving a death-rate of 45 per mille against 39 in 1890. The number of dental
operations performed was 2,431 against 2,320. The statistics show that the
number of Eurasians applying for dental treatment far exceeded that of other
classes, and Mr. Woods, the Professor of . Dentistry at the Medical College, has,
it is said, observed that the teeth of mixed races are more prone to decay than
those of other classes. This may possibly be a fact, but it is not established
by the figures given in the report, which do not show the ratio to the total
population borne by the classes referred to. In the case of Hindus, who are
stated to be the next most frequent applicants for relief, decay of the teeth
is said to be on the increase, and is attributed by the Professor of Dentistry to
the influence of advancing civilization. The subject does not appear yet to
have got beyond the stage of plausible conjecture.
In the Eden Hospital 1,485 women and 326 children were treated
during the year, against 1,409 and 363 in 1890. Of the total number of
patients treated, 979 were Europeans and 832 Natives, against 1,024 and 748,
the corresponding figures for the previous year. The number of deaths among
the Europeans was 32 against 27, and that among the Natives 65 against 42.
The increase in the mortality among both classes of patients is attributed to
the number of moribund cases admitted. There were 542 confinement cases
against 442 in the previous year, of which 21 terminated in death against 10.
Dr. Joubert remarks that among the native women there was an unusual
number of bad labour cases, which he regards as a hopeful sign, indicating
the growing popularity of the hospital with the native community. The number
o f c a s e s o f s e p t i c æmi a i n c r e a s e d f r o m 1 5 t o 2 4 , o f wh i c h e i g h t o r i g i n a t e d i n t h e
hospital. It is hoped that the special precautions which are reported to have
been taken to guard against this malady will reduce the number of such cases
in future. The arrangements for supplying hot food and hot water in this