CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
17
The two cases which occurred during the past year, although a great con-
trast with the prevalence of the disease in former years, prove how danger
-ous it would be to relax any efforts in this direction. It may be mentioned
in this connection that the steam-laundry, for the erection of which Govern-
ment sanction was obtained two years ago, is not yet ready for use, as some
delay has occurred in fitting it with the necessary machinery.
49. The surgical work at this hospital has increased considerably, although
the return for 1889 of major operations has been much diminished by the
exclusion of a number of operations which were included in the major list
last year. There were 199 major operations performed during the year,
which are included in the list of the Medical College Hospital to be found in
Statement VII. I do not suppose it is the wish of Government that I should
enter into details concerning these operations, which are more or less of a
technical character, but some of the more important may be enumerated.
These comprised five cases of abdominal section, one of kolpohysterectomy,
three of oophorectomy, and six of ovariotomy. The latter had all a successful
termination, upon which Dr. Joubert is to be congratulated.
50. With reference to the altered classification of obstetric and gyneco-
logical operations which Dr. Joubert has adopted this year, it may be
remarked that an unauthorised change of this kind is much to be deprecated,
because it has a tendency to produce confusion in the returns and to prevent a
proper comparison of the surgical work of one hospital with that of another ;
but it is to some extent unavoidable, because the classification, as sanctioned
by the Government of India in Resolution No. 129, dated 21st February 1877,
is quite out of date, and it is often difficult to decide whether an operation should
be placed in the major or minor category. Indeed, the classification followed
varies considerably in different hospitals, and as it is very desirable that one
uniform system should be adopted for the whole of India, I would suggest that
the present list should be revised.
51. Ophthalmic practice.—The total number of outdoor patients treated in the
Ophthalmic Department of the Medical College Hospital was 9,563, as compared
with 6,846 in the previous year. The indoor patients also increased from 398
to 576. There were 237 cases of extraction of the lens for cataract during
the year, and 20 remained from the previous year. Of the total, 70 per cent. were
successful. There were also 39 cases of iridectomy and many other important
operations on the eye, all of which were performed by Surgeon-Major Sanders.
52. The Ezra Hospital has been open during the entire year for the
accommodation and treatment of Jewish patients. There were 1,438 out-
patients, of whom 553 were Jews, 431 Jewesses, and 411 Jewish children,
and the remainder were European or Eurasian Christians. There were also 236
indoor patients, of whom 153 were cured, 43 relieved, 26 discharged other-
wise, and 3 died, while 11 remained under treatment at the close of the year.
These figures are nearly all slightly in excess of those of the previous year,
showing that the benefits conferred by separate treatment in an institution
specially designed for their accommodation are fully appreciated by the Jewish
community.
53. The hospital was in charge of Assistant Surgeon Gobind Chunder
Chatterjee from the beginning of the year to the 26th July 1889, and of Assist-
ant Surgeon Lala Golok Chandra from the 27th July to the end of the year,
and had a nurse attached to it. Dr. Coates reports favourably of the sanitary
condition of the building so far as its interior is concerned, but complains that
its surroundings are in some respects objectionable, chiefly on account of the
dirty condition of the street which runs immediately in front of it. It is
said that putrid fish and other rubbish are thrown on this street, the offensive
exhalations from which permeate the hospital and subject the patients to
inconvenience, particularly during the rains. The matter has been brought
to the notice of the municipal authorities.
54. Nursing.— I have great pleasure in being able to testify to the effi
-ciency of the nursing staff. In all the institutions where the nurses have
been employed they have done their work thoroughly and carefully.
55. Thanks are due to the ladies of the Clewer Sisterhood under Sister
Annie, who throughout the year have been indefatigable in their supervision and
attention to the sick. Sister Annie has now been succeeded as Superintending