16
REPORT ON THE
53. Enteric typhoid fever. —The following table gives the total number of
cases of enteric and remittent fevers admitted into the several Calcutta Medi
- c a l I n s t i t u t i o n s d u r i n g t h e p a s t 1 6 y e a r s : —
STATEMENT No. VIII.
ENTERIC FEVER.
REMITTENT FEVER.
1871. 1872. 1873. 1874.
1875.
1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880.
1881. 1882.
1 8 8 3 . 1884. 1 8 8 5 . 1886. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1 8 7 5 . 1876.
1 8 7 7 .
1 8 7 8 . 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1 8 8 4 . 1885.
1 8 8 6 .
Medical College
Hospital.
3 5 9 5 6 6 1
. . . 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1
1 42 80 86
125 95 124 152 164 180 196 150 119 106 92 73
Presidency General
Hospital.
15 17 6 11 12 17 18 9 11 6 11 12 1 10 17 17 45 19 22 10 48 27 39 38 34 49 32 40 45 26 5 3 75
Howrah Hospital...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 4 2 3 3 . . . . . . . . . . 16 28 88 146 172 21 359 393 228 107 77 73 30 82 8 6 5 5
Mayo Hospital ...
. . . 6 2
1 5 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 15 13 22 35 30 174 224 130 208 221 143 212 210 197
1 2 3
Campbell Hospital 94 86 28 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181 239 212 495 466 436 432 466 333 354 309 301 322 462 3 1 4 3 1 6
Police Hospital ... 4 12 8 11 ... 14 11 2 1 ... . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . ... ... ... 1 ...8 ...
1 1 29 28 58 41 52 44
6 1 6 4
Total ... 116 126 53 30 23 43 34 13 18 8 1 5 1 5 1 11 20 18
2 9 0 3 8 1 4 2 1
7 3 1 847 8 0 6
1 , 1 2 8
1 , 2 8 4 918 926 893 748 780 930 803 7 0 6
5 4 . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f c a s e s o f e n t e r i c a n d r e m i t t e n t f e v e r t r e a t e d i n
all the Calcutta Medical Institutions in 1886 was 18 of the former and 706 of
the latter, showing a decrease of 2 and 97 respectively, on the recorded numbers
for 1885. In the Medical College and Presidency General Hospitals, the
number of cases of enteric fever remained the same in both years. The
amount of remittent fever treated in 1886 is the lowest recorded in the past 13
years, or since 1874. The same uncertainty obtains in the correct classification
of the severer form of remittent fever, typhoid in type, and the true enteric
fever of cold and semi-tropical climates ; and nothing has been elicited during
the year in elucidation of the difficulty experienced in this country in defining
the diagnostic line between the two diseases. Seventeen cases of enteric fever
were treated in the General Hospital in the year under report, and six died.
One case only was admitted into the Medical College Hospital. The subject
was a boy aged 9 years. He completely recovered. From the uncertainty in
the nomenclature and smallness in the numbers presented in this table, no
general or useful inferences are justifiable.
5 5 .
N u r s i n g .
— M r s . A t k i n s o n , t h e H o n o r a r y S e c r e t a r y t o t h e C a l c u t t a
Hospital Nurses' Institution and the Lady Canning Home, has kindly forwarded
to me a copy of her interesting annual report on the working of the institution
for 1886. In the report I find the following about the Medical
C o l l e g e : —
" "Nineteen nurses have been on the regular staff throughout the year, aided by
two extras for the female cholera ward, which was much in use towards the end
of the season." With regard to the Eden Hospital, it is reported that "a matron
and four nurses have been on the staff during the year, besides the pupil
nurses." In regard to the General Hospital it is stated that "twenty-four
nurses and probationers have been on the staff during the year, the increase
being made when the children's ward and the contagious ward were opened.
The following is also found—" The Committee desire to place on record their
deep sense of the loss sustained by them in the departure to England of
Mrs. Horace Cockerell and Mrs. Brownlow Atlay, who have for so many years
been connected with the institution."
5 6 . D r . C o a t e s , t h e P r i n c i p a l o f t h e M e d i c a l C o l l e g e , r e p o r t s t h a t " t h e
general conduct of the nurses has been excellent. They know and do their
work more regularly and efficiently, and altogether more active and attentive,
and more to be depended on than formerly. * * * Altogether the nurses
have been well worked and managed by the excellent and aviable Sister in
charge, aided by the Matron." Dr. Harvey describes the nursing in the Eden
H o s p i t a l t o b e v e r y g o o d . H e s a y s — " T h e S i s t e r s a n d C a n n i n g n u r s e s c o n t i n u e
to deserve our warmest praise, and the pupil nurses have, with one or two
exceptions, done exceedingly well." These very favourable remarks are fully
endorsed by the whole medical staff of the College Hospital. Dr. Brich,
surgeon Superintendent of the Presidency General Hospital, speaks favour-
ably of the work accomplished by the nurses under the management
and immediate supervision of the Ladies of the Clewer Sisterhood.