21
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
83. The total number of patients treated in 1881 was 2,863 against 3,168
in 1880. Of these, 1,444 were sailors, 1,180 non-paying, and 239 paying
patients, against 1,661, 1,260, and 247 in 1880. The total number treated in
1881 was considerably less than that of any of the previous five years. The
falling off was chiefly among the sailors, whose number for the previous five years
averaged 2,031. The daily average number of sick was 136 against 152 in 1880,
and 181, the average of the decade. The fluctuations are said to be deter
-
mined largely by the amount of shipping in the port. It is observable, however,
that in 1881 more seamen were admitted into the Howrah Hospital than in 1880.
The Port Health Officer records that fewer seamen in total were sent to hospital
in 1881.
84. The number of deaths in 1881 was 137 against 102 in the preceding
year, or a rate of 47.8 per 1,000, against 32 and 45 in the two preceding years.
Excluding the deaths from cholera, the rate per 1000 is 37 in 1881, 28
in 1880, and 38 in 1879. The average for the ten years is 45. Including
cholera deaths the average is 64. Dr. Birch does not explain the cause of
this increase over 1880, but remarks that " very little is to be learned from the
mortality of an institution of this kind." Something must be due to reduction
in the number of seamen with their more trivial cases. It appears that the deaths
in 1881 from principal causes were more numerous than the preceding year.
Cholera alone accounts for 19 deaths. There were treated 53 cases with 32
deaths in 1881 against 21 and 13 in 1880. Similarly dysentery caused 11
deaths against 3 in 1880. Ten cases of typhoid fever were treated with
5 deaths against 6 and 2. Phthisis caused 16 deaths against 17, pne
u -
monia 5 against 3, and remittent fever 8 against 4 in 1880. Thus the
deaths from these causes account for an increase of 35 cases in 1881 over
those of the previous year. In 1879 the total deaths numbered 142, exceeding
by 5 the mortality of the year under review. There were performed during
the year 59 major operations of more or less importance, against 61 in 1880.
Minor operations were performed in 251 cases against 212.
85. The latrine accommodation, especially that of the centre block of
buildings, is reported to be defective. The Superintendent has communicated
his plans to the Executive Engineer, with a view to improvement. Regarding
the arrangements under which the patients are dieted in the hospital, Dr. Birch
says: " I consider them satisfactory in every way. The diet is certainly liberal,
I have never had a complaint of any kind from any patient during the short
time I have had charge." With the nursing of the hospital the Superintendent
has every reason to be satisfied. Both the Lady Superintendents left in Decem
-
ber, and were succeeded by three members of the Clewer Sisterhood, under whose
immediate control the nurses now work. The hospital subordinate staff are
favourably noticed, especially Mr. Mills, the steward, and Mr. Fleming.
CAMPBELL HOSPITAL.
86. Surgeon-Major S. C. Mackenzie was in charge of the hospital through
-
out the year.
87. The admissions into hospital were 5,675 against 6,460 in 1880. The
decrease in the number of patients was due to the fact that the hospital was
undergoing thorough repairs, including re-roofing, during the five months of the
year.
88. The daily average number treated was 372 against 404 in 1880. In 1876
and 1877 the numbers were 365 and 343. In 1878 the number was 414, and in
1879 it was the same as in 1880. As usual, malarious fevers were the most pre
-
valent diseases, of which 1,491 cases were treated during the year against 1,769
in 1880. The next in order of prevalence were dysentery, diarrhœa, ulcers, and
splenic affections. The admissions from phthisis were not so numerous as
in 1880, but more numerous than in 1879. The number treated in the year
under report was 214 against 233 and 170 in 1880 and 1879. There were 18
cases of small-pox treated into the hospital among Europeans and 66 among
natives. The numbers in 1880 were 10 and 76. From cholera the admis
-
sions were 132 against 78 in 1880, and the number of deaths was 79 against
44. The total number of deaths from all causes was 1,442 against 1,588 in
1880, and the percentage on total treated was 23.7 against 23.0. The