(7)
daily average number of sick from 134 to 152. It was also found necessary
to replace the old stock of clothing during the year. The receipts from paying
-
patients and from the Port Hospital Fund on account of seamen treated
in the hospital amounted to Rs. 65,168 against Rs. 61,241 in 1879. The
net cost to Government was Rs. 37,183 against Rs. 33,422. There was
an increase in the expenditure on diet and stimulants from Rs. 23,908 in 1879
to Rs. 28,417; but the average was practically the same in both years, 7 annas
11 pie in 1880 and 7 annas 10 pie in 1879. The average expenditure on
European medicines for the year was Rs. 34 against Rs. 80 in 1879. It is
explained, however, that there was a considerable quantity of medicines in
store at the beginning of 1879.
20. In the Campbell Hospital the expenditure of the year was Rs. 69,296
against Rs. 69,132 in 1879. Of this, Government contributed Rs. 37,562 and
the Calcutta Municipality Rs. 30,000. Petty receipts from paying patients,
the Port Hospital Fund, sale of grass, &c., aggregated Rs. 1,733. There was
some increase in the expenditure on extras and stimulants, owing to the number
of cases of severe accidents admitted during the year. The average cost of
European diets was 7 annas 9 pie, 2 pie less than at the General Hospital.
The average cost of each patient during the year was 2 annas 7 . 6 pie against
2 annas 7.3 pie in 1879, 2 annas 6 pie in 1878, and 3 annas 8 pie in 1877.
There was an increase in the cost of European medicines, but it appears that
here, as at the General Hospital, the wants of the hospital in 1879 were to
some extent supplied from the surplus stock of the previous year.
21. The Mayo Hospital shows a reduction in gross expenditure from
Rs. 59,774 to Rs. 55,159 and the Governors were able to add Rs. 2,500 to
their vested capital of the Institution, while retaining a floating balance of
Rs. 3,515 at the close of the year. The contribution from Government was
R s . 3 7 , 3 7 0 , i n c l u s i v e , o f R s . 7 , 0 0 0 w h i c h t h e L i e u t e n a n t - G o v e r n o r h a s , w i t h
the concurrence of the Governors, fixed as the annual grant to represent the
value of medicines and forms previously supplied.
22. The Howrah Hospital opened the year with a cash balance of
Rs. 13,191. The income of the year, Rs. 40,413, was made up Rs. 8,650 from
Government, Rs. 2,929 from Municipal Funds, Rs. 875 from interest on invest
-
ments, Rs. 27,447 subscriptions from Europeans, chiefly from the East Indian
Railway Company, British Indian Steam Navigation Company, Limited, and the
manufacturing companies of the neighbourhood, and. Rs. 512 subscriptions from
natives. The hospital expenditure was Rs. 34,950 against Rs. 28,434 in the pre
-
vious year. Investments to the amount of Rs. 17,251 were made, and the year
closed with a cash balance of Rs. 1,403. There was an unexplained increase of
Rs. 616 in the expenditure on European medicines, and the charges for diet
were higher by Rs. 497 than in 1879. The average cost of European diets
was 7 annas 11 pie,—the same as at the General Hospital,—and of native diets
1 anna 7 pie.
23. The daily average number of in-patients throughout the year in all
the hospitals was 1,110.5 (303.5 Europeans and 807 natives), and the daily
average number of out-patients was 1,960 (122 Europeans and 1,838 natives.)
The total expenditure was Rs. 3,13,477, made up of Rs. 1,37,700 for establish
-
ment, Rs. 36,020 for medicines, Rs. 1,00,994 for diet, extras and stimulants,
and Rs. 38.763 for miscellaneous charges, chiefly for repairs to buildings. Of
the total amount of Rs. 3,13,477, Government contributed Rs. 2,33,642.
24. The changes in hospital administration, which were introduced
by the Lieutenant-Governor on the report of the Committee on Medical
Expenditure, have now been in operation for three years, and it is interesting
to note their results as presented in the hospital returns. It is shown that
while the expenditure has been largely reduced, there has been a considerable
increase in the number of patients treated in the different hospitals and a
decrease in the rate of mortality among them. The question of the sufficiency
of the scales for the wants of the sick in hospital has now passed beyond the
range of controversy, while Dr. Coates' report, quoted above in paragraph 18,
shows how false were the assertions that the medical officers were stinted.
in the supply of articles necessary for the health and comfort of the sick.
The value of the allegations that the hospitals would lose their attractive
-
ness for the sick, and that the latter would suffer from want of necessaries,