Part III.]
PROVINCIAL HOSPITALS AND DISPENSARIES.
99
to be, as Dr. Charles expresses, " incapable of assimilating an idea,'' has been found very
unsuitable. Dr. Charles considers that the attempt to train native dhais at the medical
college has hitherto been a complete failure. His great difficulties have been the unsuitable.
ness of the pupils who have been got to attend, and the insufficient supply even of these. In
September last, on receipt of the expressed wish of Government that the experiment should
be further continued, as conveyed in letter No. 1240 of 25th March 137.3, from the Secretary
to Government, Home Department, a new class was formed at the medical college, and six
pupils were obtained; but on its being discovered that all were Christians, two vacancies
were kept open, in order, if posssible, to procure Mussulman or Hindu females. Not a single
woman of either class, however, came forward, and it was ultimately found necessary to fill
up the two vacancies with Christians. The class thus formed was, in March of the current
year, invited to submit to an examination, and three out of the six presented themselves. One
was found to be completely ignorant and failed, the other two made a creditable appearance,
and obtained certificates to practise. This amount of success, therefore, so far as it goes, has
only reference to the class of Native Christians who are without strong prejudices, and who
have received some education ; but the object of Government is not attained by this.
Dr. Chevers, the Principal of the medical college, and Dr. Charles, the professor of
obstetric medicine, are still, as they have been from the first, opposed to teaching at the
college the low standard of education desired for these women, viz., a little better training
than what is possessed by those practising as dhais, who are guided solely by their own
experience and native tradition. They would prefer to carry out an elaborate course of
obstetric instruction by having well-educated women as pupils, who would eventually turn
out highly educated midwives. They may aim too high; still I am of opinion that their
views indicate the direction in which this experiment should, if possible, be carried out. It
would appear, however, that the only likely way in which pupils of respectable character and
class, and who have received at least the rudiments of education, can be obtained, is through
the influence of district officers and the assistance of native gentlemen of position. Govern-
ment has accordingly taken steps to obtain the co-operation of district officers and native land-
owners for this object, with what result still remains to be seen.
It will evidently take time to overcome native prejudices, traditions, and customs, so as
to persuade a new and better class of women to take the place of the low caste menial race of
professional dhais ; and as child-birth in this country is, for the most part, a comparatively
simple process, requiring no interference, save only in very exceptional instances, the necessity
for this movement may not perhaps easily commend itself to the minds of even the more
enlightened natives. Still, as medical education generally, in accordance with European
ideas, has come to be now not only accepted, but to be even sought after in spite of all
early prejudices and opposition, so it may, I think, be expected that in the end a fair
measure of success will attend efforts made to educate respectable women in a useful
and competent knowledge of practical midwifery. The progress at first will be slow,
but this should not cause discouragement or lead to the abandonment of the scheme until, at
any rate, it has had a few years' longer trial.
At Moorshedabad and Hooghly, attempts in the same direction have been
made, but with no better success. The civil surgeons of Monghyr and
Purulia, too. made some efforts, but report utter failure.
Altogether there were 136 cases of labour treated in the dispensaries of
the province during the year; it is therefore a difficult matter to understand
the source whence practical instruction is to be obtained. Of the 47 dispen-
saries in which confinements took place, the highest total was 14 at Moorshe-
dabad. At Dacca there were 12. In 4 dispensaries there were 7 confinements :
in 2 there were 5, in 3 there were 4, in 8 there were 3, in 8 there were 2, and
in the remainder only 1 confinement took place in each.
Grant-in-aid rules,
The newly established grant-in-aid rules were in operation throughout the
year, and they certainly seem to have exercised a beneficial influence financially.
Meteorology.
A sketch of the meteorology of the year is included in the Surgeon.
General's report to Government. It need here be simply noted that the charac-
teristics of the year were an abnormally high atmospheric pressure in Eastern
Bengal, unsteady easterly winds, late arrival and early cessation of the mon-
soon, and a very deficient rainfall.
Public health.
The year was not a particularly sickly one, though cholera prevailed to a
greater extent than in 1872, and it was endemic all over the province, but its
outbreaks were not violent. Small-pox, too, was more than usually prevalent.
Measles appeared in the districts of Burdwan, Bankoora and Dacca. The
endemic fever of Burdwan, Midnapore and Beerbhoom has continued, though
it is believed not so virulently or extensively. It extended itself to the west
of the district past its former boundary. Dr. French, whose report in extenso
will be found in the Surgeon-General's report to the Bengal Government,
believes after thorough investigation that the disease is a malarious fever of
an unusually fatal character.