Part III,]
DISPENSARIES IN THE PUNJAB.
109
of European medicines." It appears to me that the first cause is resultant from the second and
third, and that the remedy for these lie in the hands of the local authorities, civil and medical,
to whom I appeal for action towards removing the evils pointed out.
Desirability of
employing a superior
class of medical
subordinate.
These remarks very clearly point to the desirability of employing a more
highly educated class of medical officer to take charge of branch dispensaries,
and to the necessity of increased liberality on the part of the native public.
In these views the Punjab Government participates, and expresses its opinion
in paragraph 2 of the resolution on the report, showing practically the
direction in which the remedies are to be sought:—
* Viz. y Delhi.
Bhiwani.
Hansi.
Ambnla.
Jagadhri
Ludianah.
Amritsar.
Guvdaspur.
Sialkot.
Mayo Hospital.
Kasur.
Firozpur.
Rawalpindi.
Pind Dadan Khan.
Multan.
Chiniot.
Leiah.
Bhakkar.
Mianawli.
Peshawar.
But though the increase in the number of dispensaries and patients during 1873 is
satisfactory, there appears to be considerable room for the extension and improvement of these
institutions. His Honor observes, from statement 4 of the appendix, that in the districts of
Hoshiarpur and Lahore there are but 3, in Ludianah and Hissar but 2, and in Firozpur and
Montgomery only a single dispensary established. But seeing that the Government is now
in a position to supply trained native medical officers, it is
desirable that district officers should take measures to promote
the establishment of new dispensaries in localities in which
medical aid is required. His Honor further observes that out
of 120 dispensaries in the province, only 20* are in charge
of assistant surgeons, but there are many municipalities in
the province sufficiently wealthy to afford the expense of
a 1st class dispensary in which, His Honor observes, the
dispensary is in charge of a hospital assistant only. Among
them he notices the dispensaries of Jhujjar, Batalah, Panipat, Rewari, Kythal, Bherah, Rahon,
Palwal, Kartarpur, Farakhnagar,—all municipal towns with upwards of 10,000 inhabitants.
The remainder of Mr. Dallas' report is occupied with practical observa-
tions on the working and position of each individual dispensary in the province,
but it is not necessary to reproduce them here, as they are of chiefly local
interest.
Rawul Pindee Circle.
Deputy Surgeon-General G. Banister reports that there were 29 dispen-
saries working in the Rawul Pindee circle at the close of the year. He con-
siders that the dispensaries are increasing in popularity, but in some instances
he was not satisfied with the amount of supervision exercised by civil
surgeons on the branch dispensaries in their districts.
Amballa Circle.
Deputy Surgeon-General J. Tresidder submitted a very interesting
summary of the working of the dispensaries in the Amballa circle. The
establishment of a dispensary at Unah, in the Hoshiarpore district, was sanc-
tioned by the Punjab Government, but would not be opened as there was no
medical subordinate available. The civil surgeons of the various districts
inspected all their dispensaries at least four times in the year, and nearly all
have been visited monthly. Dr. Tresidder regards this as one of the more
important duties of a civil surgeon, and he insists upon the regularity of
periodical inspections. He considers the interest taken by civil officers in the
dispensaries of their districts to be markedly earnest, and he was well satisfied
with the qualifications and conduct of the medical subordinates.
On the subject of the public health of his circle Dr. Tresidder writes that
the prevalent diseases were fever, dysentery, bronchitis, and pneumonia, but
the fevers were of a mild type. Delhi, Jullundur, Amballa, Rohtak and Hissar
suffered most from fever, and the Goorgaon district from bowel complaints,
which he considers attributable to the water-supply. No epidemic cholera
appeared, but there were a few cases in Goorgaon.
Dr. Tresidder's opinions concerning the source to which dispensaries
should look for support coincide with those expressed by the Government and
the Inspector-General of Dispensaries.
Separate accommoda¬
tion for females.
In all the dispensaries in the Amballa circle, where in-patients are received
there is proper and carefully secluded space for female patients, and many are
provided with separate rooms for the accommodation of sick natives of the
better classes, and the Deputy Surgeon-General urges that such accommodation
ought always to be provided.
Pay of subordinates.
Dr. Tresidder also advocates an improvement in the distribution of the
pay and emoluments of the hospital assistants attached to dispensaries, by
which appointments to dispensaries should carry the pay of the rank of the
subordinate, plus a staff salary, varying with the responsibility of the charge
from 10 to 30 rupees per mensem,—an arrangement which he believes would not
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