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8. In the Eden Hospital 2,435 women and children were treated against
2,668 in the previous year, showing a decrease of 233 cases. Owing to want of
accommodation when the building was under repairs, many applicants had to be
refused admission. Of the 2,435 patients treated, 832 were Europeans and
1,603 natives. The deaths among the former amounted to 29, and among the
latter to 56. The number of confinement cases fell from 513 in 1888 to 497;
the mortality among this class of patients being 18 against 20 in 1888. The
very few cases of septicæmia which occurred in the Hospital show that
antiseptic precautions were carefully enforced in all cases of labour. The import-
-ance of these precautions has been fully impressed on the nurses, and it is hoped
that no pains will be spared to eliminate this dangerous and fatal disease. The
steam laundry sanctioned for this institution is not yet ready for use, owing to
some delay in fitting it with the requisite machinery. Certain alterations made
by Dr. Joubert in the classification of obstetric and gynæcological operations,
are likely to produce some confusion in the annual returns, but appear, at the
same time, to be unavoidable, as, in the absence of any recent orders on the
subject, difficulty is often experienced in the classification of these operations.
With a view to ensure one uniform system in the different hospitals, the
Inspector-General suggests that the classification sanctioned in the Resolution
of the Government of India, No. 129, dated the 21st February 1877, should be
revised. The Lieutenant-Governor agrees in these remarks, and will consult
the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals with a view to formulating the
alterations which may be recommended to the Government of India.
9. In the Ezra Hospital 1,438 out-patients and 236 in-patients, most of
whom were Jews, were treated during the year. Of the in-door patients
153 were cured, 43 relieved, 26 otherwise discharged, and 3 died. These
figures show that the benefits conferred by this institution are fully appreciated
by the Jewish community.
10. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to find that the nurses employed in
the hospitals continue to discharge their duties thoroughly and well, and has
read with great pleasure the high praise accorded by Dr. Hilson to the
ladies of the Clewer Sisterhood in speaking of the indefatigable services
rendered by them in supervision and in tending the sick. Four permanent
nurses were appointed this year to the Eden Hospital, as it was considered
dangerous to rely exclusively on temporary nurses, many of whom do not
possess sufficient experience in the work. Twelve European and Eurasian
nurses passed their examination, two of them with great credit.
11. The invested capital of the Calcutta institutions shows a decrease of
Rs. 8,500 ; securities to the value of Rs. 12,000 were withdrawn, and applied
to the construction of a new moribund ward in the native department of the
Howrah Hospital. The total income during the year, including the opening
balance, amounted to Rs. 5,21,390; of this sum Rs. 3,46,858 were contributed
by Government. The total expenditure, excluding the amount invested, was
Rs. 5,01,970, against Rs. 4,27,082 in 1888. The increase was mainly due to a
large expenditure on buildings and repairs in the Campbell Hospital, while the
increase in the amount contributed by Government is due to the entire cost of
the Police Hospital having been met from Provincial Funds. The Inspector-
General remarks that the Calcutta Municipality contributed nothing towards
the Mayo institutions, and that it is time to consider whether, in view of the
fact that Government has undertaken all charges on account of Calcutta Police,
the Municipality should not relieve the Government of its contribution towards
the medical charities of the city. It has already been pointed out to Dr. Hilson
that the entire relief afforded to the Municipality by the reduction of police
estimates is hypothecated to the improvements of the Suburbs, and that, so far
as this argument is concerned, it affords no ground for asking the Municipality
to undertake all charges on account of the medical relief of the town.
12. The thanks of Government are due to Dr. Hilson for his careful and
interesting report.
ORDER—Ordered that a copy of the Resolution, with a copy of the Report,
be submitted to the Government of India for information.
Ordered also that a copy of the Resolution, be forwarded to the Inspector,
General of Civil Hospitals for information and guidance; that a copy of the
Resolution, and of the Report, be forwarded to the Chairman of the Calcutta
Corporation and to the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, for information, and