16
REPORT ON THE
48.
The College Hospital, as a building, is " en bloc," "en messe." Were it
built on any principle of segmentation, like all modern hospitals, then it would
be possible to utilize a segment for the detention and treatment of contagious
cases. This, however, is quite out of the question here. The only way, therefore,
of protecting surgical cases from danger is to refuse admission to all patients
from whom infection might arise, and transfer them, if already in hospital, to
the cell wards abovementioned: But this would not be right, nor would it be
just to the medical staff, who are working so earnestly in the interests of the
Public and of the Government.
49. The retention of such cases among the general mass of surgical cases
involves risks which ought not to be run. In my opinion—and I am sure I voice
the sentiment of the entire medical staff when I say, that, nothing short of
a separate hospital or "set of wards" for contagious cases would be of the
slighest use. The Government might sanction this right-away. No public
money could be better spent.
50. At the Mayo Hospital and branch dispensaries there were 333 cases of
important operations treated in 1885, with 19 deaths. The figures stood for
last year 229 with 23 deaths. The minor operations performed in the same
period amounted to 12,220 against 12,783 in 1884. The fall in the aggregate
numbers of minor operations treated in the year under report indicates
sickness of less severity among out-patients, and agrees with the reduction in
attendance, noted in paragraph 14. The slighter accidents and surgical
diseases which are the outcome of active out-door work, especially where machi-
nery is much employed, were less numerous. At the Campbell Hospital there
were 179 major operations with 14 deaths in 1885, against 168 with 12 deaths
in 1884. The minor operations were 385 against 259 in 1884. At the
Howrah Hospital there were in 1885, 36 important cases of operation with
3 deaths, as compared with 40 in 1884 with 9 deaths. The minor operative
practice at this institution increased considerably in 1885, the figures being
1,166 as against 997 in 1884. The major operations undertaken at the
General Hospital amounted to 46, giving 9 deaths. In 1884 they were 54
and 3 respectively. The minor operations were 91 against 63 in the previous
year.
51. Dental practice.— The following figures exhibit the working of the
dental dispensary at the Medical College in the past two years.
1884.
1885.
Extractions
1,352
1,396
Stoppings
105
112
Miscellaneous cases
254
240
Total
1,711
1,748
These figures show a total increase of 37 operations over that of 1884.
This result is the more gratifying, because it affords increasing evidence
of the high estimation in which the department of dental surgery in this
institution is held by the public.
52. During the year Mr. Woods, the Professor of Dentistry, has experi-
mented most successfully with cucaine chloride in painless extraction. He
reports that this new remedy is most valuable in cases of sensitive "dentine."
A pellet of cotton is saturated with a solution of cucaine and allowed to remain
in the cavity of a decayed. tooth for a few minutes. The carious "dentine"
can then be gouged away with little or no pain to the patient. In the cause of
humanity this is a great discovery.
53. A proper operating room is a very great desideratum here. At present
there is no privacy and space, and arrangements are inadequate and inconvenient.
A suitable waiting-room is an urgent want. Additions to the Choonee Lal Seal
building itself, and a readjustment of its internal accommodation are now very
necessary. This dispensary is not commodious enough for the mixed crowds
of men, women, and children attending it daily.
54. Obstetric practice .—The number of house patients in the Eden Hospital
was 1,575 or 1,064 Europeans and 511 natives, including children. Of the