( 5 )
the old obstetric ward was in use, had been 30.9, immediately rose to 43.3.
The establishment of the new hospital was reorganized, and has now been
placed on a satisfactory footing. Pupil nurses are still employed, but they
are no longer relied on to do the main part of the work. For this a sufficient
staff of trained nurses from the Canning Home has now been permanently
entertained. The Surgeon General considers it satisfactory " that the Eden
Hospital, with imperfect nursing and other disadvantages inseparable from a
commencement, should have already given evidence of having met a public
want." The total number of cases treated by the obstetric physician during
the year was 1,323, of whom 802 were European and 521 native patients.
The number of deaths was 75 against 76 in the previous year, out of a total
of 1,008 patients.
11. In the Medical College Hospital the number of indoor patients
treated was 4,947, exclusive of ophthalmic cases, against 4,773 in the previous
year. The number of deaths was 611, or at the rate of 123 per 1,000, against
129 in 1881. This rate is the lowest on record since 1875, except that of
1877. Of the patients treated, 2,287 were Christians and 2,660 natives, the
death-rates of the two races being 59 and 178 per 1,000 respectively. The
death-rates from fevers of Christians and natives were 37.4 and 139.5
r e s p e c - t i v e l y ; f r o m d y s e n t e r y a n d d i a r r h œ a , 1 2 7 . 1 a n d 2 2 6 . 4 f r o m c h o l e r a , 3 6 3 . 6
and 436.2 and from chest-affections, 55.1 and 314.6.
12. In the Presidency General Hospital the total number of patients
treated rose from 2,863 in 1881 to 3,295. Of these, 1,735 were sailors, and,
of the remainder, 444 were paying and 1,116 non-paying patients. The
number of paying patients was considerably in excess of that of the previous
year, when it had been only 239. The number of deaths was 148 against 137
in 1881, and the rate of mortality per 1,000 treated was 44 against 47, 32,
and 45 in the three preceding years. There were 62 cases of cholera with 34
deaths, and 195 cases of dysentery with 8 deaths. Typhoid fever, remittent
fever, and phthisis accounted for 6, 4, and 9 deaths respectively.
Quadrennial repairs were carried out during the year to the eastern
b u i l d i n g ; b u t i t i s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e w e s t e r n b l o c k i s g e n e r a l l y i n a b a d s t a t e
of repair, and that the floors in particular require renewing. On a recent
personal inspection of the Hospital, the Lieutenant-Governor noticed the bad
condition of the flooring. The attention of the Public Works Department
will be drawn to this. Much, too, may be done for the improved appearance, if
not for the sanitation of the place, by clearance of the trees and vegetation to
the south of the spacious grounds in which the Hospital stands. The nursing
arrangements are under the supervision of the Clewer Sisterhood, and are said to
have been carried out with energy and efficiency. Not a single complaint was
received during the year concerning the dieting of the patients, and Dr. Birch
writes that, "comparing our diet-scale with that of London and Australian
hospitals, I find no scale so liberal as ours." Since the close of the year a
scheme has been submitted to Government for the supply of filtered water to
the wards direct from the mains. The Lieutenant-Governor would be glad to
see this carried out without delay, and a reference has been made to the
Calcutta Corporation on the subject.
13. The number of admissions into the Campbell Hospital during 1882
was 5,290 against 5,675 in 1881, being a falling off of 385 patients. The
Surgeon-General's explanation of this, which appears to be in some degree
conjectural, has been alluded to in paragraph 2 above. The largest number of
admissions was, as usual, on account of malarious fevers, being 1,247 against
1,491 in 1881. Next in order were dysentery, diarrhœa, ulcers, and splenic
affections. Cholera cases rose from 78 in 1880 and 132 in 1881, to 186 in the
year under review. Small-pox and phthisis, on the other hand, shewed a large
falling off. The total number of deaths was 1,405 against 1,442 in 1881,
and the death-rate per mille was 247 against 237. The increase is said to be
due to the larger number of cholera cases treated during the year, and of
moribund persons admitted. The true death-rate of the hospital per 1,000,
excluding cholera and moribund cases, was 204 against 206 and 204 in 1881
and 1880. Certain minor improvements were effected in the interior arrange-
ments of the hospital, and others have been projected. The plans and esti-
mates should be submitted to Government without delay for consideration in
the Public Works Department.