24
REPORT ON THE
patients, rendered the death-rate seemingly high. The following are the
numbers :—
1880.
1879.
Europeans
517
604
East Indians
1,568
1,400
Chinese
113
44
Jews and Armenians
228
78
The death-rate of the Native wards was affected in a similar direction by
restoration or transfers to Sealdah.
71. Regarding the supply of diet, Dr. Coates observes that " we have
plenty of money to spare for any and everything required in the way of
necessaries and delicacies, and we do not hesitate to spend freely in all such
cases. Every item that every officer has ordered for his patients has been
supplied without question or inquiry: interference was not needed. The many
lady visitors to the hospital, the various clergymen and scripture-readers, and
the friends of the sick, who stream into the hospital at all hours and converse
freely and separately with the inmates, have in no one instance brought to
our notice any deficiency or inferiority in the quality of the food and comforts
given to the patients throughout the year."
72. Since July last all the milk of the hospital is taken direct from the
cows within the hospital compound.
73. Concerning the outside diets coming into the hospital, Dr. Coates
made a careful investigation into the matter. He says he " could not control
it, because Jews, Jewesses, Eurasians, and a few high caste Hindus would refuse
portions of their hospital diets, and their friends would bring food from their
houses." Subsequently, however, the paying and non-paying patients were
separated, and the latter were ordered either to get their diet entirely from
home, or to be entirely fed by the hospital, excluding the former from the
hospital diet rations. From September a record has been kept of these diets,
and the following is the result :—
Outside diets in
addition to
hospital diets.
Diets entirely
from home.
September
611
103
October
286
161
November
90
221
December
71
146
The year closed with the hospital having but two patients receiving diets from
home in addition to that supplied by the hospital.
74.
Buildings.— The wards for contagious cases have not yet been
commenced. They are much needed for erysipelas, puerperal, and measles
cases. The midwifery out-door department has been removed to rooms previously
allotted to medical out-door relief department.
75.
Conduct of Establishment.— Mr . Knight the steward, Mr. Tresham, in
charge of the compounding and the dispensary, and his assistant, Mr. Burgess,
as well as the head and assistant writers of the office, have been favourably
spoken of. Dr Coates expresses himself on the whole as well satisfied with the
conduct of the nurses.
PRESIDENCY GENERAL HOSPITAL.
76. Surgeon-Major J. Jones was in charge throughout the year.
77. The number of patients treated in 1880 was 3,168 against 3,115 in
1879, and 3,207 the average of the past ten years. The fluctuations in admis-
sions are greatly due to the varying number of sailors treated. The daily
average number of sick was 152, or an increase of 18 over that of last year,
but still under the average of the last ten years, which was 166.
78. The total number of deaths was 102 against 142 in 1879, or a rate
of 32 per 1,000 against 45 in the previous year, and against 44 the average
of the decade. The rate of mortality was much influenced by deaths from
cholera. The ratio per 1,000 of deaths exclusive of cholera was 28 against 38
in 1879, and 33 the average of the last ten years. The ratio per 1,000 of deaths
among men was 28, women 33, and children 85. Several children were brought
to the hospital in a moribund condition after every remedy had been tried at