( 2 )
and if this is correct, the crowding should be temporary, and the necessity for
the ward should shortly cease. This hospital still holds a number of persons
suffering from blindness, and others who should be classed as incurables. The
Superintendent should renew his efforts to transfer such persons to the charge
of their friends and relative.
4. The number of in-patients treated in the voluntary lock-hospitals
during 1885 was 414 against 333 in 1884, showing an increase of 81. The
daily average number of patients treated was 90 against 61 in the previous
year. This shows that each patient on the average continued in the hospital 79
days in 1885 and 68 days in 1884. Of the total number of in-door cases, 48
were Europeans and Eurasians and 366 natives. Ninety-three patients, viz.,
48 Europeans and Eurasians and 45 natives, were treated in the Sealdah Lock-
hospital, against 111, or 38 Europeans and 73 natives, in the previous year.
Three hundred and twenty-one patients (natives) were treated in the Alipore
lock-hospital, against 222 in 1884. The total number of admissions was 342,
of which 100 were received on transfer from the Campbell Hospital. The
corresponding numbers in 1884 were 279 and 75. There were 18 deaths among
the native in-door patients, or a rate of 4.9 per cent. on total cases treated,
against 21 and 6.3 per cent. in the preceding year. There were treated in the
hospitals 1,889 out-door patients against 1,454 in 1884, the daily average
number being 6.5 and 5.9 respectively. Of the total number of out-door cases,
39 were treated in the Sealdah Lock-hospitals, against 50 in 1884. Altogether
1,850 patients were treated in the Alipore Lock-hospitals, against 1,404 in the
preceding year. Many cases of venereal disease are still treated at the other
hospitals to the detriment of the patients of other classes for whom those institu-
tions are chiefly intended. The Inspector-General will be requested to instruct
the Principal of the Medical College and Superintendents of other hospitals
to transfer as many patients as they can to the voluntary hospitals.
5. The results of the surgical operations in the Medical College Hospital
were more satisfactory than those of the previous year. The number of
operations performed in the hospital was 394, of which 30 cases proved fatal,
against 416 operations with 52 deaths in 1884. Ophthalmic operations are not
included in these figures. There were three deaths from erysipelas during the
year. The disease broke out in November, having been imported by the
husband of a patient, and spread by infection. Six cases in all occurred, of
which three were fatal. Prompt measures were taken to segregate the sufferers
and to disinfect the wards in which the outbreak occurred, and to purify the
bedding, instruments, and other appliances through which contagion might be
communicated. Dr. Cowie considers that the history of this small outbreak
shows that the spread of erysipelas, once the most dreaded and fatal of all
forms of hospitalism, is now completely under control, while its specific action
can readily be destroyed or rendered harmless by antiseptic surgery and
effective sanitary measures. He has pointed out, however, that the College
Hospital, unlike most modern hospitals which are built on some principle of
segmentation, is en bloc, and that at present scarcely any means exist for segre-
gating infectious cases. This matter has already received the attention of
Government, and the Inspector-General has been asked to submit plans and
estimates for a suitable ward for cases of this character.
6. In the Eden Hospital 1,575 women and children were treated against
1,390 in the previous year. Of these, 1,064 were Europeans and 511 natives.
The deaths among the former amounted to 35, and among the latter 32. The
number of confinement cases rose from 379 to 432, the mortality among this class
of cases being 22 against 29 in 1884. The reduction in the death-rate is satis-
factory, as many patients were admitted in a hopeless state. The Lieutenant-
Governor is satisfied with the general working of the hospital. It is stated that
a steam laundry is required, as the present arrangements are defective. An
estimate has been called for ; but the Lieutenant-Governor fears that with so
many urgent calls upon the Provincial finances, it will be difficult to provide
the necessary funds at present.
7. The total number of cases of enteric and remittent fever treated in all
the hospitals during the year was 20 and 803 respectively, against 11 and 930,
the corresponding figures of the previous year. Of the 20 cases of enteric
(or typhoid) fever, 17 are shown as having been admitted into the Presidency