6
REPORT ON THE
10. Particular diseases.—The town was exceptionally free from small-pox
in 1882, only 17 deaths appearing on the municipal register. As 28 cases were
treated in hospital with only three deaths, the disease must have been mild as
well as scarce. If it were fatal in the same ratio in town, the recorded deaths
would represent 158 cases, showing that less than one-fifth of the cases appeared
in hospital. The proportion was probably larger than this, as it may be pre
sumed that fatality was greater outside the hospitals. The quantity of fever
treated in hospital was less by 693 cases than in 1881. In all the hospitals
except the Police fever was much more fatal in 1882 among natives than in the
previous year, and less so among Europeans in all hut Howrah. Cholera
increased, and its death-rate was higher than in 1881. There were 589 cases
treated in 1881 and 859 in 1882. Dysentery fell both in quantity and
severity. Diarrhœa showed an increase in quantity and in fatality. The dis
tribution of these affections in the several hospitals shows that the figures
largely represent final stages of general exhaustion rather than distinct diseases.
Of parturient women there were received into hospital only 338 against 313 in
1881 and 406 in 1880. This is less than would be expected, as the new hospital
was occupied during the latter half of the year. There is found some increase
among the mixed class called Europeans at the Medical College and a small
increase of natives in the Medical College returns. The working of the Eden
Hospital will be more particularly reported hereafter. At the General Hospital
there was a small increase of midwifery practice. It was ordered that this
practice should cease on the opening of the Eden Hospital, but the order has
been only lately enforced. It will be observed that there were fewer European
cases of parturition in the Howrah Hospital in 1882 than in the previous year,
and a small increase of native cases at Sealdah over 1881, but not over 1880.
In the Mayo Hospital there were only five cases, the same as in 1881.
STATEMENT No. VI.
Campbell
Hospital. Medical
College
Hospital.
Howrah
Hospital.
Mayo
Hospital.
Police
Hospital. TOTAL.
True native deaths, excluding cholera
1,269
409
227
226
26
2,157
Moribund. persons
191
120
51
38
3
406
Difference
1,078
289
173
188
23
1,751
True death-rate per mille, excluding cholera and moribunds 204.32
120.87
223.8
103.98
9.51
138.25
11. This table, as showing the true death rate among natives in hospital,
gives satisfactory evidence as compared with the previous year with the excep
tion of the Mayo Hospital. There were admitted 415 moribund persons in
1881 and 406 in 1882. At the Campbell Hospital the true death-rate was 204
against 206 ; at the Medical College 120 against 133 ; at Howrah 223 against
238. At the Mayo Hospital the rate was 103 against 86 in 1881.
12.
Operative surgery.— The table which purports to show the results of
operations in figures will be found in the appendix. I have said enough on
former occasions to prevent the acceptance of mere figured entries as evidence
of the merits or otherwise of surgical practice. It has been necessary to dis
cuss this technical point of late, because it had assumed administrative impor
tance, as the Government is well aware. I think it will be admitted that the
events of the past year have set controversy finally at rest, and that it will not
be necessary again to lengthen an administrative report by discussion of a
purely technical question.
13. At the Medical College Hospital there were 279 important surgical
operations in 1882, followed by death in 29 instances. In 1881 there had been
252 operations with 54 deaths. Ophthalmic operations are not here included.
If, after the events of the past few years, there could have remained any doubt
of the fitness of this hospital for the treatment of surgical disease, it must be set
at rest by the record of 1882. This question has therefore, I may conclude, no
further interest in the eyes of Government. I will, however, compare results