11
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
31. Dental practice.—The following figures exhibit the actual working
of the dental dispensary at the Medical College :—
1883.
1884.
Extractions ...
...
...
... 1,402
1,015
Stoppings
...
...
...
. . .
77
105
Miscellaneous...
...
. . .
. . .
297
254
Total
... 1,776
1,374
32. The number of operations performed in 1884 differed very mate-
rially from the record of the previous year. The falling off is not altogether
due to a normal fluctuation, but to the fact that dental surgeons in private
practice have increased in number during the year. Dentistry is now very
generally practised in the numerous chemists' shops throughout the city.
33. Obstetric practice. —There were 890 European and 500 native patients,
including children, treated in the Eden Hospital during all 1884. Of the former
number 37 and of the latter 40 died. The total number of women treated were
1,072 with 48 deaths.
34. There were 379 confinements with 29 deaths in 1884. The corres-
ponding numbers for 1883 were 314 and 12. The mortality was heavy. Many
cases, however, it must be remembered, were admitted in a very hopeless state.
The increasing attendance of parturient women at the Eden Hospital, the
object for which it was erected, is most satisfactory.
35. There were 9 cases of septicœmia, viz., 2 Europeans and 7 natives.
All died. Dr. Harvy reports that four of the cases contracted the disease
before admission.
36. The lower portion of the Eden Hospital was opened during the year,
owing to the pressure from native patients seeking admission. The charity
is rapidly growing in popular estimation, and, as will be gathered from the
present figures, a great and good work is being accomplished.
37. Nursing.—Dr. Harvey describes the nursing as good. He says :—" It
has been infinitely better than in any previous year," and there have been few
or no complaints.
38. Dr. Coates, and in fact, I may say. the whole medical staff of the
Medical College Hospital, speak in the highest terms of the efficient manner in
which the duties in this department, under the guidance of the ladies
of the Clewer sisterhood, have been conducted throughout the year. He adds
" I gratefully record my high estimation of the able and energetic sister
Fanny Gertrude, who managed the nursing of the hospital during the year. She
was most successful in creating activity among the old and in training and
breaking in the new nurses." "Mrs. Bowler too has worked well and willingly."
39. Dr. Birch says that in the General Hospital " the nursing has been
on the whole well done." " The lady superintendents have continued to exert
themselves with their usual tact and have been a great assistance to us."
40. This report would be incomplete were I to omit mention of the efficient
labours of the Hospital Nurses' Institution Committee. The Honorary Secre-
tary to the Calcutta Hospital Nurses' Institution and the Lady Canning Home
has kindly forwarded to me a very interesting annual report on the working of the
institution for the year 1884. The Honorary Secretary in her covering letter
says :—
" During 1884, we have increased our staff of nurses at the Eden Hospital
b y o n e ; a t t h e M e d i c a l C o l l e g e H o s p i t a l b y o n e ; a n d h a v e f u r t h e r c o m p l e t e d
the Government scheme for training pupil nurses by receiving two extra pupils
at the General Hospital, as soon as the completion of the new wing at the
Canning Home enabled us to transfer two of our own nurses from the nurses'
quarters to the Canning Home."