( 6 )
for the first time. The cost of diet and stimulants fell from Rs. 29,752 to
Rs. 25,787. The reduction is said to be due chiefly to the cheapness of pro-
visions in the year under review. The average cost of each diet for Europeans
was 6 annas against 6 annas 6 pies in 1880, and for natives it was 2 annas
6 pies against 2 annas 10 pies. The miscellaneous charges rose from Rs. 9,915
to Rs. 10,993. The increase was chiefly due to the larger quantity of dressing
and bandaging cloth required for the antiseptic treatment adopted in the
First Surgeon's Ward.
18. The expenditure in the Presidency General Hospital was Rs. 1,05,894
against Rs. 1,02,352 in 1880. The accounts of Prince Gholam Mahomed's
Fund were amalgamated with those of the hospital : the receipts from the Fund
were Rs. 1,511, the expenditure Rs. 681, and the closing balance Rs. 5,057.
The increase in the total expenditure was attributable to the higher charges
for building and repairs. The receipts from the Port Commissioners fell
from Rs. 65,168 to Rs. 39,235. The decrease was mainly due to the reduction
in the payments for seamen from the Port Hospital Dues Fund. These
were reduced from Rs. 2 to Re. 1.4 per diem in November 1880, and to Re. 1
in August 1881. Dr. Payne points out that this rate is insufficient, as the total
actual cost per patient per diem was Rs. 1-13-4 in 1880 and Rs. 1-7-8 in 1881.
It is believed that if all establishment and miscellaneous charges were included,
the average cost would be found to be higher. Government, however, were
compelled to reduce the rate, and to place this heavy charge on the public
revenues in order to avoid legislating to raise the limit of the Port Hospital
Dues, and thus throwing additional expense upon the Shipping of the Port.
The cost of bazar medicines fell from Rs. 1,855 to Rs. 1,599, and that of
Europe medicines from Rs. 5,176 to Rs. 4,449. The expenditure on diet was
at the same rate as in 1879 and 1880. The expenditure on stimulants was,
however, considerably reduced, being only Rs. 842 against Rs. 1,206 in 1880.
This result is satisfactory. The average cost per patient per diem of diet
and stimulants combined was 7 annas 9 pies against 8 annas 1 pie in 1880.
This includes paying patients.
19. In the Campbell Hospital the total expenditure amounted to
Rs. 1,02,773 against Rs. 69,295 in 1880. The whole of the large increase is due
to the expenditure on repairs and improvements, which amounted to Rs. 49,474.
Apart from this outlay, there was a reduction under every head of expenditure.
This was, however, mainly due to the smaller number of patients treated. The
daily average cost of diet was 7 annas 2 pies for Europeans and 2 annas
4 pies for natives. The repairs and improvements have been carried out on a
most extensive scale. They included the construction of a dead-house, the
conversion of the old Blind Asylum into a new dispensary office and quarters
for the Resident Surgeons, the re-roofing of a large portion of the hospital
building, as well as the ordinary quadrennial repairs. In the Police Hospital
the charges were much the same as in the previous year. The average cost
of diets fell from 2 annas 8 pies to 2 annas 6 pies, the result of a fall in prices
for all articles of food in 1881.
20. The funds of the Mayo Hospital are in a most flourishing condition.
The invested capital on 1st January 1881 amounted to Rs. 3,34,900, and this was
increased during the year by Rs. 2,500, bringing the total up to Rs. 3,37,400.
The Surgeon-General suggests that in view of the sums invested in this
hospital from annual income, the payments of Government should be re-con-
sidered. These payments amounted to Rs. 37,366 during the year under
review. The proposal will be considered in the Financial Department of this
Government. The total expenditure amounted to Rs. 59,413 against
Rs. 55,159 in the previous, year. The expenditure on Europe medicines
amounted to Rs. 9,784, which is Rs. 4,096 in excess of that of 1880. It is
explained that there is now a large stock of medicines in hand, which is
expected to last for some time. The daily average cost of diets was 2 annas
11 pies against 2 annas 8 pies in 1880. If diets privately supplied are
excluded, the cost becomes 3 annas 2 pies against 2 annas 11 pies last year,
Not only was the average cost higher than in any other Calcutta hospital, but
it was higher than the cost in the same hospital in the previous year,
although 1881 was a notoriously cheaper year than 1880. The Lieutenant-
Governor considers that some explanation should have been given of this.