CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS. 15
23. The number of minor surgical operations performed by the Resident
Surgeon in 1880 was 5,802. In 1879 it had been 4,694. The difference is
ascribed to increased attendance of out-patients, attracted by the new dispen-
sary. I observe, however, that in 1878 the Resident Surgeon performed 6,197
operations and 5,585 in 1877. Some of these would have been included in the
list of more important operations if they had been performed in the wards,
to which indeed they were admitted for subsequent treatment.
24.
Dr. Coates gives the following account of the opening of the new
dispensary:—
The Choonee Lal Seal's Dispensary was completed and opened on
1st July for the relief of the poor of all classes. It consists of medical,
surgical, and dental departments, superintended respectively by the Resident
Physician, Resident Surgeon, and Dental Surgeon of the Medical College
Hospital. The building is well situated, and is said to attract a larger number
of sick than used to attend in the rooms allotted to them on the lower floor of
the hospital.
This attraction is not yet proved, for there has been considerable increase
of attendance in other dispensaries. In the new dispensary arrangements
for the comfort of patients have been perfected in every respect. The number
of new patients treated in the three departments in 1880 was 25,754. Of these,
11,488 were treated in the medical, 12,981 in the surgical, and 1,285 in the
dental department. In addition to these numbers, 9,804 new cases were treated
in the duty room of the hospital itself, and advice was given by the Resident
Officers to 1,617 persons of a higher class. The total number of new cases
treated as out-patients in 1880 was 36,366, to compare with 28,661 in 1879
and 27,083 in 1878.
The particulars of practice in the dental department were as follow:—
Extractions
873
Stoppings
94
Treatment
272
Advice
46
Total
1,285
25. Obstetric Hospital.—The working of the obstetric department of the
College Hospital is thus shown. The number of patients treated by the Obstetric
Physician in 1880 was 1,277 to compare with 1,204 in 1879, and with 1,238,
1109, 1153, 1004 in the four preceding years. There were 296 deliveries
during the year to compare with 247 in 1879, and with 264, 260, 250, 226,
and 216 in the five previous years. Of the women confined 23 were Europeans,
88 East Indians, and 185 Natives. There were 213 children treated in these
wards, of whom 32 died, or 113 per mile. The corresponding ratio in 1879
was 105.7.
In the dispensary of this department, it is stated that the total number
of women and children treated during the year was 34,197. In 1879 it was
36,170. Of these, 14,283 are said to have been new and 19,914 old cases.
These last figures evidently record the number of attendances, and not the
number of persons treated, in respect at least of old patients. There is nothing
to show the number of out-patients under treatment at the beginning of the
y e a r . T h i s o m i s s i o n w i l l b e s u p p l i e d i n f u t u r e . I t i s a w o r k o f s o m e d i f f i c u l t y
to ascertain this number if record is not made at the proper time. The
attendances of previous years' patients are included in those of old cases,
which term is used to signify all but first attendances; but this affords no
information as to number of patients remaining from 1879. There were 433
minor operations performed in this department.
26. Ophthalmic Hospital.—In the Ophthalmic Hospital 516 in-patients were
treated, to compare with 523, 546, 536, 534, and 590 in the five preceding
years. Of this number 245 were cured and 153 were relieved, making a total
of 398, to compare with 406 in 1879.
There were 363 major and minor operations performed. Of these 307
resulted in cure and 26 in partial relief, 31 were ineffective, and 33 cases
remained under treatment at the end of the year. The seventh statement shows
306 operations of the more important kind with 150 cures. The out-door
practice of this hospital in 1880 was represented by 6,312 patients, to compare