RESOLUTION.
MEDICAL.
Dated Calcutta, the 30th July 1890.
READ—
The Report on the Calcutta Medical Institutions for 1889.
Read also
—
The Report for 1888 and the Resolution recorded upon it.
1. The year 1889 was not remarkable for any great increase or decrease in
the recorded mortality; but it is necessary to bear in mind that changes have
been recently made in the boundaries of the Suburbs, and that the figures
relating to this area cannot be accurately compared with those for former years.
The number of deaths from cholera in Calcutta and Howrah was far less
numerous than in 1888, and in the Suburbs the decrease in the figures has been
so large as to justify the belief that, even allowing for the change in boundaries,
there was a real and substantial decrease in the actual prevalence of the disease.
The mortality from small-pox, which in the years 1886, 1887 and 1888, had been
trifling in comparison with that of former years, suddenly increased, though
not sufficiently to cause serious anxiety. The death-rate from all causes in the
town was 26.9, as against 26.97 in 1888, and in Howrah 22.71, against 21.68.
2. The following table shows the number of persons treated, as in-door
or out-door patients, in the several hospitals during the past two years:—
1889.
1888.
TOTAL TREATED.
Died per
mille of
treated.
TOTAL TREATED.
Died per
mille of
treated.
In-door.
Out-door.
Total.
In-door.
Out-door.
Total.
-
Medical College Hospital ...
. . .
6,665
50,182
56,847
89.82*
6,194
45,800
51,994
102.1*
General Hospital
...
...
...
3,190
. . . . . .
3,190
39.81
2,968
. . . . . .
2,968
37.39
Mayo Institutions ...
...
...
2,278
137,419
139,697
126.86
2,833
174, 7 69
177,602
97.42
Campbell Hospital ...
...
...
8,252
......
8,252
203.95
6,497
......
6,497
215.94
Municipal Police Hospital ...
...
2,432
......
2, 432
8.22
2,735
......
2,735
10.96
Total Calcutta Hospitals
...
22,817
187,601
210,418
119.91*
21,227
220,569
241,796
115.82*
Howrah General Hospital ...
...
1,513
9,609
11,122
217.44
1,385
10,525
11,910
247.65
GRAND TOTAL
...
24,330
197,210
221,540
126.13*
22,612
231,094
253,706
124.05*
* Reckoned on cases treated, exclusive of cases treated in the ophthalmic ward of the Medical College Hospital.
The increase in the number of in-door patients, although distributed
among all the charitable institutions, except the Mayo Hospital and its
dependencies, was very considerable in the Campbell Hospital, which is resorted
to by paupers, and is attributed by the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals to
the high price of food-grains which prevailed in Calcutta and the surrounding
districts for a great part of the year. The falling off in the number of out-
door patients amounts to 37,350 in the Mayo Hospital, and is said to be
due to the operation of a new rule under which the institution is closed on
Sundays. Dr. Hilson takes exception to this practice, and remarks that it
should not have been introduced without the sanction of Government, as it
is likely to lead to great confusion in the preparation of annual statistics.
This no doubt is true, but the point is not one in which the Government need
interfere with the discretion of the Governors of the Mayo Hospital. In
Howrah there was a decrease of 916 in the attendance of out-patients. In
reference to the action of the Superintendent of the Howrah Hospital in
refusing medicine and medical attendance to well-to-do out-patients, the
Inspector-General observes that, "although some such restriction on the attend-
ance of people of this class is much to be desired, the change should not be
introduced without the sanction of Government, and, if made at all, it should
be applicable to other charitable medical institutions in Calcutta." In this
connection the attention of the Inspector-General will be drawn to the orders
of Government contained in circular No. 1, dated the 1st January 1880,
directing that, in the case of hospitals and dispensaries at the Presidency and in
the Suburbs, where there are druggists' shops, and where advice and medicines
can be obtained otherwise than at charitable institutions, out-door relief shall
be, as far as possible, restricted to those whose circumstances do not admit of