CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
8. Numbers treated in hospital .—The total number of indoor patients in-
creased from 20,381 in 1883 to 21,360 in 1884. The increase was confined to
the Mayo (including its dispensaries) (239 and Campbell (1,026) hospitals. In
the other institutions the numbers fell. The increase of house patients in the
former hospital was chiefly due to a large accession of cholera cases being ad-
mitted at the commencement of the year. This hospital, together with its dis-
pensaries, shewed a total increase of 4,894 in the number of indoor and outdoor
patients treated in the past twelve months over the number recorded in 1883,
distributed as follows:—
1884.
1883.
Mayo Hospital
...
...
. . .
40,022
42,771
Chandney ditto
...
...
. . .
69,967
65,630
Park Street Dispensary ...
...
...
33,528
32,748
Chitpore ditto
...
...
...
23,201
22,592
Sukea's Street ditto
...
...
. . .
17,007
15,090
Total
. . .
183,725
178,831
9. From the year 1879 to 1882, the out-patients at the Chandney Hospital
were returned in steady growing numbers. In the most unaccountable manner,
however, they suddenly fell, with a difference of 5,266 patients in 1883. Oddly
enough, this year there has been a very marked rise in the numbers seeking
relief at this institution, amounting to 4,280—the figures being 65,259 in 1883
and 69,539 in 1884. No explanation whatever has been vouchsafed for this very
extraordinary fluctuation in the attendance. The out-patient practice at the
Mayo Hospital itself fell from 40,930 in 1883 to 37,999 in 1884. This reduc-
tion was the outcome of closing the hospital earlier than usual on Sundays, to
afford the resident staff one day's rest in the seven.
10. The working of the Campbell Hospital during the year has been satis-
factory. The total number treated at this institution amounted to 6,525
persons, as compared with 5,499 in the year 1883, or an excess of the former
over the latter of 1,026 patients. The increase is distributed with a very few
exceptions throughout the nomenclature of diseases, the zyniotic class being
largely represented. Remembering the peculiar constitution of this hospital, and
that the very poorest of the poor resort to it for medical relief, while the sick
among the labouring classes and floating population daily attend the Mayo Hospi-
tal and its dispensaries, a synchronous rise or fall in the numbers treated in all
of them—for these institutions are situated widely apart—may be accepted
as a sure index of the character of the season. Surveying these figures,
then, from a public-health point of view, the contrast so far exhibited be-
tween the numbers applying for relief in 1883 and 1884 is very striking;
and I take it, demonstrate beyond possible cavil that the condition of things
in this city in the past twelve months was most unfavourable.
11. Of the 44,562 out-patients treated at the Medical College Hospital,
15,989 were treated in the medical dispensary, 11,804 in the surgical, 6,274 in
the ophthalmic, and 1,374 in the dental department. The total number of patients
treated in the duty room after dispensary hours was 9,121. Last year the
Principal ascribed the gradual reduction of minor surgical operations to the
frequent but unavoidable changes in the staff; but I think the more correct
reason for the falling off in this direction is that now furnished, viz., the
establishment of chemists' shops throughout the town, to which qualified
surgeons are attached, who give advice and perform minor operations free
of charge.
12. The daily average number of patients under treatment in 1884 were
as follows:—
Indoor.
Outdoor.
Medical College
...
...
... 331.24 311.65
General Hospital
...
...
... 165.27 ......
Mayo Hospital
...
...
96.6 1,211.2
Campbell Hospital
...
...
. . . 360.83 ......
Police Hospital
...
...
...
83.47 ......
Howrah General Hospital
...
...
...
62.13
88.06
There is nothing in these figures which calls for special remark.
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