( 2 )
death-rates are higher than in 1886, they are lower than in any other previous
year since 1881.
6. The number of admissions from dysentery rose from 1,601 in 1886 to
1,703, but there were only 447 deaths, against 455 the year before. There
were 612 admissions for cholera, which in 341 cases proved fatal. Mortality
among the European patients treated for this disease was greater in the
General Hospital than in the Medical College. The Inspector-General remarks
"that this difference is not likely to be due to any particular mode of treatment,
but probably to the more virulent character of disease among the class of
patients admitted into the General Hospital." The Lieutenant-Governor is glad
to find that there were no cases of cholera among the patients under treatment
in the General Hospital—a result which is attributed by Dr. Birch to the
precautions adopted to secure the purity of the water and to the establishment
of a dairy within the college compound for the supply of milk and butter to
the patients. The decrease in the number of cases of small-pox during the last
two years points to the conclusion that the operations of the Vaccination Depart-
ment have of late been very successful in the town, but the Inspector-General is
of opinion that without further experience it is impossible to say whether it is
due to this cause alone. In order to effect the complete segregation of small--
pox patients, it has been decided in future to admit such patients only to the
Campbell Hospital, and for this purpose sanction has been accorded to the
construction of a separate ward at a cost of Rs. 50,000. The total number of
cases of enteric fever treated in all the hospitals was 13. Of these, 11 were
admitted to the Presidency General Hospital and 2 into the Howrah Hospital.
Both the cases admitted to the Howrah Hospital and 3 of those admitted to
the General Hospital proved fatal. The above figures seem to show that
Calcutta enjoys comparative immunity from this disease, and this, Dr. Hilson
thinks, may perhaps be attributed to the purity of the water-supply. Cerebro-
spinal fever shows 4 cases, all fatal, admitted into the Campbell Hospital, and
13 admissions with four deaths in the Mayo Hospital. The disease has also
been present of late years in the Alipore Jail, and deserves special attention.
7. There were 2,672 admissions to the voluntary lock-hospitals for
venereal diseases, against 2,113 in 1886. The number of in-door patients
shows a slight diminution, being 458 against 484 in the previous year. Of
the total number of in-door patients, 28 were Europeans and 430 natives.
The total number of admissions for venereal diseases in all the institutions
was 14,492, against 13,860 in 1886. Of these, 1,494 were Europeans and
12,798 natives. The Inspector-General proposes to abridge and remodel
the statement showing the number of venereal diseases. He should in future
submit a separate report on the subject, which is one that can be most con-
- v e n i e n t l y d e a l t w i t h b y i t s e l f .
8. The number of important operations performed during the year was
1,488, against 1,561 in the previous year. Of these, 81 only proved fatal, or
50.81 per mille, against 64.07 in 1886. Dr. Hilson's remarks on the necessity
of affording larger scope to the Assistant Surgeons, both at the Medical College
Hospital and also at the Campbell Hospital, for performing important opera--
tions, deserve the careful consideration of the officers in charge of those
institutions. The number of surgical operations performed at the Howrah
Hospital seems to be much below what might be expected at such a well-
equipped institution. The Inspector-General notes that in the Chandney
Dispensary attached to the Mayo Hospital, it is reported that 52 out of 66
major operations were dislocations. This he refuses to believe, and states he
has no hesitation in saying that the record of these cases is erroneous. He
is requested to inquire and report specially on the whole management of
this dispensary.
9. In the Eden Hospital, which is devoted entirely to midwifery and
diseases of women, 1,607 patients were treated during the year, against 1,541
in the previous year. Of these, 946 were Europeans and 661 natives. The
daily average of both classes was 67 .8, against 74.1 in 1886. There were
39 deaths among the Europeans and 58 among the natives, against 28 and 40
respectively in the previous year. The number of confinement cases treated
was 439, with 25 deaths, against 445 in the previous year, and 17 deaths.
The above figures show a diminution in the number of cases admitted, and an