8
REPORT ON THE
21. Particular diseases.— The quantity of fever, although greater in 1886,
was far less fatal than in the previous year. It was less fatal in the propor-
t ion of 62 to 73 per thousand. There was an increase in cholera. Of the 11 cases
of small-pox, viz., one European and 10 natives, treated during the 12 months,
4 died. The total deaths from the same disease in the town were 15. Now,
if these occurred in the same proportion to total attacked, the probable
number of cases in town would have reached 42. But unfortunately we
have no means of ascertaining what the extent of the disease really was in
1886, inasmuch as 10 out of the 11 cases—one being a European who remained.
under treatment from 1885—were received into the Campbell Hospital, which
is situated without municipal limits, and includes admissions from the suburbs
and Howrah, &c. One case was admitted into the Police Hospital. From
the foregoing figures it is quite apparent that small-pox abated very greatly
in the town proper during the year under review, although it by no means
follows that therefore all town cases were received into hospital.
22. Dr. Mackenzie furnishes the following particulars regarding the
ten patients treated during the year in the Special Small-pox Hospital at
Sealdah in contrast with those treated in 1885 :—
Varieties of small-pox.
1885.
1886.
Confluent
...
...
...
...
34
5
Discreta... ...
15
2
Semi-confluent
...
...
..
15
1
Hœmorrhagic ... ... ...
4
...
Modified
...
. . .
2
Total
...
68
1 0
He also furnishes the analysis of the four fatal cases, as shown below :—
Total treated.
Deaths.
1885. 1 8 8 6 .
1 8 8 5 . 1886.
After vaccination ...
...
. . .
2 3 2
7
1
„ inoculation ...
...
...
4
1
2
...
„ small-pox
...
...
. . .
2
...
. . .
. . .
Unprotected
...
...
...
39
7
23
3
Total
...
68
10
32
4
The case of the disease received into the Police Hospital was "modified"
in form, the patient completely recovering from the attack.
23. Respiratory affections fell considerably, both in the total treated
and in fatality. The death-rate per thousand of total treated fell from
162.3 in 1885 to 129.4 in 1886 ; while phthisis, which is classed under order
B, "Constitutional diseases," gave an increased death-rate, rising from 412.6
per mille in 1885 to 424.01 in 1886. The increase falls on the Presidency,
General, Police and Howrah Hospitals. The fluctuations in the total death-
rate of all our hospitals from this disease vary but little from year to year.
The present rate, viz., 424 . 01, although, 11.41 greater than that recorded in
1885, is lower than the average of the past 4 years, which was 443.94. This
would indicate that the small increase in the mortality from phthisis this year
over last presented an ordinary degree of fatality, and nothing more.
24. Of diseases not specified, 6,301 are entered under the heading
"other diseases," and of this number 476 died. The figures in the
preceding year were 6,244 and 381. "Debility and old age" accounted for 669
cases and 97 deaths ; "Poisons and poisoned wounds" for 445, with 31
deaths ; and 1,776 injuries were treated, which gave a mortality of 119, or at the
rate of 67. per mille. The quantity of "Debility and old age" received into
hospital in 1886 somewhat exceeded that of 1885. The death-rate, however,
was much higher, or in the proportion of 144.9 to 93.3. Poison cases remained
almost the same in both years, while injuries, although giving a larger number
of cases in 1886, are credited with a considerably less degree of fatality than
in 1885. Dysentery and diarrhœa presented fewer cases than in 1885, with
fewer deaths. Parturient women were treated in much larger numbers than for
the past five years, with results somewhat more favourable than those in 1885.