17
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
former 35, and of the latter 32, died. The figures last year stood at 1,390, 890,
500, and 37 and 40 respectively. The total number of women treated was
1,241 with 39 deaths.
55. There were 432 confinements with 22 deaths in 1885. The correspond-
ing numbers for 1884 were 379 and 29, or a mortality of 5.09 against 7.65 in the
latter year. This reduction in the death-rate is a vast improvement. What
greater proof do we want of the extreme cleanliness, the admirable nursing and
perfect hygienic condition of the hospital itself? As a lying-in institution
in the above respects its condition is not to be excelled. In a special hospital
of this description we must not look for a low death-rate. Many poor women
are admitted in a hopeless state.
56. Four cases of "septicœmia" occurred in the hospital during the
year. Dr. Harvey is in doubt as to its mode of introduction. "The in
- s a n i t a r y c o n d i t i o n o f t h e
b u s t i s
c l o s e t o t h e h o s p i t a l , " o r " t h e b a d n e s s
of the hospital washing," or something else might have been the medium
by which the disease was conveyed into the building. Dr. Harvey writes:
"I am at present using ' wood wool diapers.' Since we began to use
them there has been no death from "septicœmia." Before, however,
expressing any decided opinion, he purposes giving the "diapers" an extended
trial. The cost of this experiment Dr. Harvey is generously defraying himself.
57. As regards clothing and bedding, I must admit that both the Medical
College and Eden Hospitals were at one time badly off in these respects.
I have since arranged for a complete renewal of the clothing, bedding, and
r e s e r v e
s t o c k s o f b o t h
institutions. Mattresses, &c., will be made of wholly
fresh materials. The work is of no slight magnitude, still Dr. Coates is
pushing it on, and hopes to completely renovate everything within a
reasonable time.
58. Now a word as to the washing. All the staff complain of its "badness,"
and they are-amply justified in so doing. The impossibility of improvement
here, for years past, has been a source of much anxiety to Dr. Coates, the
Principal, and he has done all in his power to remedy the evil No one will
question the active share soiled linen and bedding exert in the production of
septic diseases in a lying-in or surgical ward. Until, however, the Government
fulfil their promise to erect a "steam laundry," or some philanthrophic person
presents us with the needful funds for this purpose, no radical or permanent
change for the better can be looked for in the old fashioned and imperfect
native dhobie system of washing.
59. Ophthalmic practice. —The practice here showed 6,960 patients treated
in 1885 as against 6,801 in 1884. The in-patients were 524 compared with
527, 509, 501, 608, and 516 in the preceding five years. The daily average of
in-patients was 42.01 against 30.5 in 1884.
60. The total operations for cataract amounted to 453. Of these, 353 were
cured, 38 relieved, 14 were "discharged otherwise," and 44 remained under treat-
ment at the close of the year. The corresponding figures for 1884 were 315, 236,
2 5
, 3 2 a n d 2 0 . A g a i n I h a v e t o r e p o r t t h a t t h e a m o u n t o f w o r k p e r f o r m e d
in this department at the Medical College Hospital was very creditable. Of
the 453 patients operated upon in 1885, 353 recovered, or at the rate of 77.9 per
cent. of total treated. The figures were 315, 236, or 74.9 per cent. in 1884.
61. Enteric (typhoid) fever. —The following statement exhibits the
admissions from typhoid fever in the several institutions during the past 15
years:—
STATEMENT No. VIII.
ENTERIC FEVER.
REMITTENT FEVER.
1 8 7 1 1872 1 8 7 3 1874 1875 1 8 7 6 1877 1878 1 8 7 9 1 8 8 0 1 8 8 1 1 8 8 2 1 8 8 3 1 7 8 4 1 8 8 5 1 8 7 1 1872 1873 1874 1 8 7 5 1876 1 8 7 7
1 8 7 8 1 8 7 9 1 7 8 0 1 8 8 1 1 8 8 2
1 8 8 3 1884 1885
Medical college Hospital.... 3 5 9 5 6 6 1
... 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 42 80 86 58 1251 95 124 152 164 180 196 150 119 1096 92
Presidency general hospital 15 17 6 11 12 17 18
9 11
6 1 1 1 2 1 10 17 45 19
10 48 27 39 3 8 34 49 32 40 45 26 53
H o w r a h H o s p i t a l
... ...
......
. . .
... ... ...4
2 4 2 3 3 . . . . . . . . . 162888146172210
3 5 9 3 9 3 2 2 8 1 0 7 7 7 7 3 3 0 82 86
M a y o H o s p i t a l
. . .
...
... 6 2 1 5 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
28
15 13
22 25 36
1 7 4
2 2 4 1 3 0 2 0 8 2 2 1 4 1 3 2 1 0 210 197
Campbell Hospital ... ...
9486 2 8
2 ... ... ... . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
181239 212 495 4666 438
4 3 2
4 6 6 3 3 3 3 5 4 3 0 9 3 0 1 3 2 2462 314
Police hospital ... ...
4 12 8 11 ... 14 11 2 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . ... ... ... 1 ... . . .
1 1 2 9 2 8 5 8 4 1 5 2 44 61
Total ... 116 126 53 30 23 43 34 13 18 8 15 15 1 11 20 290 381 421 731 847 806 1,128 1,284
9 1 8 9 2 6 893 7 4 8 780 930 803