NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
114
In this dispensary the new payment system was brought into ac-
tion in March. In this month the sum of Rs. 22 was realized, but the
falling off in attendance was very great and much to be deplored ; in
February there was an average attendance of 23.9 in March 5.4.
Mandvi,
A town in the Collectorate of Surat and Pergunnah of the same
name, pleasantly situated on the right bank of the Taptee where that
river is, however, not navigable for other than small boats ; this town
lies 19 miles south-east of Surat. The country around is reported to
be highly malarious, the water bad, and the hilly jungle considerable.
In 1868 the community of Mandvi expressed their desire for the
establishment of a dispensary, and voted a subscription of Rs. 1,255
towards it. The matter was taken into consideration, and under Re-
solution No. 1257, dated 26th May 1869, the establishment of a dis-
pensary was sanctioned under the grant-in-aid system, Government
paying Rs. 600 per annum, according to population. The dispensary
was opened on the 2nd August 1869 in a native house and removed to
the dispensary building, erected at the cost of the Local Funds in 1870.
The situation of the dispensary is tolerably central, it is close to
the Cutcherry, to the Police lines, and to the residence of the family
of the late Chief: in fact it occupies one corner of the old "Rajawaree,"
one side abutting directly on the main road. The building is much
the same as that at Bardoli, but being confined in its surroundings
does not present so pleasing an appearance. My visit of inspection
did not impress me satisfactorily as to the necessary care and atten-
tion bestowed by the Hospital Assistant in medical charge, Govind
Keshow, General No. 520.
I did not see many patients, but the average daily attendance at
the dispensary is stated in the returns to be 44.38.
No operations, either major or minor, are recorded.
The number of sick admitted during the year under report was
4,029 there had remained 36 from previous year, total treated 4,065,
including 7 in-patients ; of these, 3,325 were cured or relieved, 1 died,
721 absented, 18 remained.
The number of fever cases (ague) was 813, being 20 per cent.
to the whole treated. There were 3 cases of febricula; no cases of
remittent fever. This is curious ; the surrounding country is con-
fessedly most malarious, and I should have expected a far greater
number of applicants for relief under this head.
Seven in-patients were treated, 1 died, these are included in the
above. Six cases are forwarded.
I have since been informed
that this Hospital Assistant has
really neglected and carelessly
conducted the vaccination of
Mandvi.— T.B.J.
Vaccination.—There were only 15 cases
vaccinated owing to scarcity of lymph
and to that supplied in tubes being of
inferior quality. I directed more atten-
tion to be paid to this subject, which, I
fear, had been neglected.
115
This dispensary was brought under the payment system in March.
Result.—Rs. 7-5-6 were received, but patients fell from an average
of 38.5 in February to 16.6 and 16.7 in March and April, 3 legal post-
mortem examinations were performed.
Anklesar,
A large town in the Collectorate of Broach, Pergunnah
Anklesar, with a population of 9,000, is within a short distance of the
station of the same name on the Bombay, Baroda, and Central India
Railway, 7 miles south of the Nerbudda and Broach. It possesses 4
cotton ginning factories, and is the chief town of the taluka. The
various Native Magisterial, Revenue, and Judicial Officers have their
courts here. There is no municipality in this town, and I have no
means at hand to show how this dispensary was originated. At any
rate it was opened in September 1870, under Government Resolution
No. 301,February 8th, 1869, Government contributing Rs. 600 annually.
The dispensary is situated in a low and mean part of one of the
dirtiest towns I have ever seen. Open cesspools meet the eye in
every street, and at these the cattle diligently employ themselves as
scavengers; heaps and heaps of rubbish of every description lie about,
unmoved I should say, for years, and the smells are indicative of
the general habits of the people. There is no municipality here, and
I fancy little attention is paid to the orders of the authorities as
regards cleanliness.
The dispensary is rented; it is the upper floor of a private house
ascended to by a ladder; the front room is the general surgery, con-
sulting room, &c., the back room is supposed to be for in-patients.
The daily average number of patients has been in the year under
report 35, maximum being 95. The number remained from last
* Including 16 in-door
patients.
year was 36. The number admitted 5,758.
Total treated 5,794;* of these, 5,393 were
cured or relieved, none died, 385 absented
, a n d 1 6 r e m a i n e d u n d e r t r e a t m e n t . O f t h e s e , t h e r e w e r e 1 , 3 5 8 c a s e s o f
fever, intermittent, being 23.43 per cent. of the whole treated. No
other cases of fever are mentioned; 16 in-patients were treated, no
deaths. These are included in the above.
My predecessor stated that "the Assistant appears to be doing
his work well." Recently this person has asked for his discharge.
Orginally a native apprentice, the Acting 3rd Class Hospital Assist-
ant Heerjee Ardaseer, was discharged from the service at his
own request. He is the son of a native doctor practising in Broach,
and finding that at Anklesar some of his relations from small
beginnings had risen to become cotton-press owners, he applied to
be appointed to the medical charge. His application was backed
by a numerously signed petition, and he was allowed to take the
charge. Finding last year that he was not really restored to the
service, he said he would resign, and as my opinion is very different
116
to that of my predecessor as to his professional qualifications, I trust
the resignation will be accepted.
In a central position of the town there is a property belonging
to Government which, with the expenditure of from 1 to Rs. 2,000,
could be made into a very fair dispensary for this place, and I am of
opinion that this should be done as soon as possible, by the aid of
Government and Local Funds.
The inhabitants are said to be poor, and when I was at Anklesar
on tour, I sent to the chief persons to meet me, only one person
came ! I have to write on the subject.
The Annual Report of Mr. Heerjee Ardaseer is as good as that of
many Hospital Assistants, but the treatment of disease he has not
touched upon.
The rainfall was 16 inches 56 cents.
The payment system was commenced in March in the present
year, with the following results : Rs. 29-14-9 were received. In
February the average number of daily sick was 40, in March 14,
in April 7.
No report of operations, either major or minor, is shown, and no
legal post-mortem examinations were performed.
Hansot,
A town in the Broach Collectorate, with a population of 4,152,
in the taluka of the same name, situated near the south-
eastern bank of the broad Estuary of the Nerbudda, and 14 miles
south-west of Broach. The Nerbudda is about two or three miles
distant in direct northerly direction. There is no municipality,
and Hansot has the same neglected appearance as many of these
Gujrat towns and villages present, as if houses were crumbling
to pieces, and as they crumble away the debris left, with other col-
lections to make up a general result of a most uninviting description.
The Hospital Assistant says " the town presents a very dirty ap-
pearance ; the supply of drinking-water is from wells which are
shaded by Peepul and Mangoe trees, the water sends forth offensive
smells, the waste water runs through the streets and yields noxious
gases, spoiling the surrounding atmosphere."
The dispensary was opened in May 1870, under Resolution of Gov-
ernment No. 1257, 26th May 1869, Government giving Rs. 600
per annum. A Hospital Assistant, educated in the Grant Medical
College, has the medical charge.
The dispensary occupies two rooms in a private house in the centre
of the town ; these are so ill-suited for the purpose that I presume
the arrangement to be only a provisional one. It is unnecessary to
enter into a description, as if a building is not provided it would be
advisable to change to some other house. At my inspection I went
117
over the whole town, but though I examined several places, none
could then be found at all suitable or convenient.
The total treated in the year under report was 5,099 ; of these, 5,708
were fresh admissions and 21 remained from previous year ; 4,861
were cured or relieved, 219 absented, and 19 remained under treat-
ment; no deaths recorded. Of the treated 1,126 were from ague, being
22.27 per cent.; there were 127 cases of remittent fever. No in-pa-
tients were treated, there being no place for their reception. From
the position of the Nerbudda and the country around, I should have
looked for more evidence of fever than the dispensary cases afford.
The vaccination report shows that 60 cases were operated on suc-
cessfully. No thermometrical observations were made ; the rainfall is
not remarked on in the annual report of 3rd Class Hospital Assistant
Abbajee Babajee, General No. 556. As far as I could observe this
Assistant performed his medical duties satisfactorily.
The payment system was commenced at this dispensary with the
Following results :—Rs. 9-7 were received. In February the
average daily sick was 28, in March 18, in April 15.
There were no legal post-mortem examinations performed during
the year.
Pardi,
A town of about 4,444 inhabitants, in the taluka of the same
name, in the Collectorate of Surat, situated at about 1½ mile from
the line of the B. B. and Central India Railway, which has a station
here. The town lies about 6 miles due south of the River Peir. The
population of the taluka is estimated at 51,236.
This dispensary was established according to para. 3 of Govern-
ment Resolution No. 1488, dated 14th August 1867, the Government
contribution being Rs. 600. It was opened on the 1st January 1870.
The dispensary building, concerning which my office contains no
record, is much the same as those erected by Local Funds in other
places. In this one, however, the original plan has been somewhat
departed from, not beneficially. I directed some alterations to be
made in the management as regards reception of patients and treat-
ment of in-patients. Accompanied by the 1st Assistant Collector
I, a second time, visited the dispensary to observe the state of the
building. It had been erected by contract by the same person who
built the Elao Dispensary, and the same imperfection of building was
ascertained to exist here also ; large cracks in the walls were more
apparent in this dispensary.
The dispensary is situated at the extreme end of the town, in a
clear open space by the public road; the situation is favourable. The
dispensary possesses all requisites for treatment of in-patients.
The Assistant in charge, 3rd Class Hospital Assistant Balcristna
Hurree, General No. 547, knows nothing of English, and were it not
for his Native Medical Pupil, could not get on as regards his records.
I have remarked in my inspection return that he is not intelligent
15 M D
118
and not very zealous. The dispensary was however very clean, the
compound was under ornamental cultivation by him. The number
of cases remaining from last year was 172, there were admitted in
the year under report 5,367, making a total
treated of 5,539;* of these, 3,593 were cured
or relieved, 1,865 absented—the largest num
-ber yet shown under this head—none died, leaving 80 remaining un-
der treatment. The average daily sick throughout the year was 50;
of these cases, 973 were of ague, being 17.56 per cent. of the treated.
There were 7 cases of remittent fever, 4 in-patients were treated,
included in the above.
The annual report of Balcristna Hurree is one which affords little
information.
The temperature was registered, as maximum 97° and the mini-
mum 52° in January.
The rainfall is stated to be 50 inches and 30 cents.
There were no post-mortem examinations performed in the year for
medico-legal purposes.
There is no dead-house. No minor operations were performed.
No receipts of payment system.
Chikli,
A town in the taluka of the same name, in the Collectorate of
Surat, with a population of 3,015, the taluka and town having a
population of 58,346. Chikli, situated on the Gundewallee
River to the north, is a small irregular town, with many villages
at short distances from it. There is a small bungalow here,
on the border of a large tank, which was almost dry at my visit, a
fertile source, I should imagine, of seasonal malaria to this part of
the town.
The dispensary was instituted on the same principles as the former,
Government granting Rs. 600 per annum, the Local Funds provid-
ing the remainder.
My predecessor, in his report, states that he had selected a site for
the erection of a dispensary, which I visited; very much attention
to sanitation would be required as the site is close to the general
necessary of the place—however, I have not heard that any steps
have yet been taken towards commencing it.
The dispensary at present occupies two cramped rooms of a small
house in the main street, perhaps as unsatisfactory as any I have yet
inspected; the accommodation for the Assistant and Native Medical
Pupil was very bad. I went over the town to try and meet with
something better, but did not succeed.
The number of sick remaining under treatment from the previ-
ous year was 53,3,401 was the number admitted in the year under
report, total 3,454; of these, 2,837 were cured or relieved, 601 ab-
* Including 4 In-door pa-
tients.
119
sented, no deaths reported, 16 remained. No in-door-patients, there
being no place for their reception; average number of patients 17.6.
Out of the number treated 1,079 were fever cases, ague, being
31.23 per cent. of the whole. There were 36 cases of remittent
fever.
At my inspection the 3rd Class Hospital Assistant in medical
charge, Bhasker Sittaram, General No. 549, stated that he had suffer-
ed from repeated attacks of fever. His appearance bore out his state-
ment, his removal appeared to me to be very necessary, and as the
3rd Class Hospital Assistant at Randir had to be removed, this man
was recommended to fill his place, and 3rd Class Hospital Assistant
Chintamon Bullal was put, as a temporary measure, in charge.
I
cannot speak as to the acquirements of this man (C. B.), but of Bhas-
ker Sittaram I may say that he appeared to me to be intelligent,
but if the carelessness exhibited in book-keeping was attributable
to anything else than weakness from disease, I should say he should
be remanded to general duty. His work at Randir is pronounced
by the Civil Surgeon as fair. Many of these 3rd Class Hospital
Assistants, fresh from the vernacular class, sent to new dispensaries
without any knowledge of what is required, cannot help making
mistakes and continuing in error until inspected. I would recom-
mend, whenever the service requirements do not call for immediate
employment, that these men should be sent to the office of a Deputy
Inspector General to learn the clerical work of dispensaries in the
examination of reports, &c.
The annual report is meagre in the extreme, prepared by 3rd Class
Hospital Assistant Chintamon Bullal, it is unsatisfactory. He, states
he is unable to give the daily average number of sick in consequence
of the faulty mode of keeping the register.
Last year the daily average number of patients was 5.2, the year
under report 17.6. Four legal post-mortem examinations were per-
formed during the year.
No thermometrical register is reported on. No rainfall. No opera-
tions were performed. No receipt for payments received.
Pen,
A town in the Alibag Collectorate, situated on the River Boy-
wattee or Creek, about 23 miles south-east from its entrance, on
the south-east of the Bombay harbour, possesses a population
of about 6,000, chiefly Hindoos, and a municipality : the dispensary
was established under Government Resolution No. 1287, of 17th May
1871, and was opened in the same year.
The dispensary is situated in the upper floors of a private house
in the main street, rented for the purpose from a member of the
municipality at Rs. 7 per month. The first floor is divided into one
large room and three small adjuncts. One of these, extremely limi-
ted, is set apart for in-patients, another is used for stores and for
private examination, and the 3rd is a sort of attendance room.
120
There is a loft or second floor above used for the preparation of
decoctions and infusions, it is unfit for anything else. The whole is
extremely ill-adapted, and its selection ill-advised for the purpose of
a dispensary. The dispensary floor is reached by a narrow, steep,
difficult ladder, which no very sick person could ascend.
I would strongly advise arrangements being made for renting the
whole of this house for the dispensary ; the lower floor is now occu-
pied as the store room of a merchant named Keshew Set. The owner,
a principal member of the municipality, would, I believe, alter it to
suit the requirements, and let the whole for about Rs. 15 per month.
Unless early measures are in contemplation for the erection of a new
dispensary building, I strongly advise this being done, as the better
accommodation which would be thus provided, and ease of access to
the place would much increase the number of applicants.
The daily average attendance since its opening is 42.
The Hospital Assistant, General No. 418, Hurree Row Powar, is
intellegent and active, but sickly.
At the time of my visit to the dispensary I saw the Mamlutdar
and Keshew Set, no other members of the Dispensary Committee
presented themselves. Vaccination was carried on with diffi-
culty. I inspected the whole of the town and observed it to be in
far from a cleanly condition. It would be beneficial for the muni-
cipality to have, as one of its members, a person sufficiently acquaint-
ed with common sanitary requirements to advise them. At Pen
the Hospital Assistant might fill this position with advantage. The
appearance of this town of 6,000 inhabitants impressed me with the
idea that if money is expended on its cleanliness it must be wasted,
for its streets and byeways were dirty and an air of laisser faire
pervaded the whole.
The number of treated during the year under report amounted to
* Including 2 in-door
patients.
6,026* ; of these, 61 remained from the pre-
vious year, and 5,965 were fresh admissions,
4,964 were cured or relieved, 1,022 absented,
7 died, and 33 remained.
Ague gave 1,300 cases, a ratio of 21.5 per cent. on the whole treated.
Of other fevers there were four cases. There were two in-patients.
The temperature registered was 92º highest in the month of May
and 78º lowest in the month of January.
2nd Class Hospital Assistant Hurree Row Powar is an extremely
intelligent and active man; his health has latterly failed him, and he
has recently been reported to me as suffering under a disease of
which albuminaria is a symptom ; in consequence his returns and
reports have fallen into arrears, and I have been obliged to make up
the annual return of sickness from the monthly documents.
The result of the payment system commenced in March was as
f ollows:—Rs. 21 were received. In February the average daily sick
was 37, in March 28.
121
No legal post-mortem examinations were conducted during the
year. 59 minor operations were performed.
The Dispensaries of the 3rd Class are
—
Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy.. Presidency.
Ophthalmic
..
"
Dockyard ..
..
"
Alibag
..
.. Collectorata of Alibag, North Koncan.
Tanna
..
. . Tanna "
Surat ..
.. Surat, Gujrat.
Broach ..
.. Broach "
Ratnagiri ..
.. Ratnagiri, South Koncan.
Dapuli
..
.. Severndrug,
"
Vengurla ..
.. Ratnagiri.
Karwar ..
.. Karwar, North Kanara.
Honore ..
. .
" "
Sawantwari
.. Independent State.
Matheran.
.. Thana.
Opthalmic Dispensary.
The dispensary for diseases of the eye is held in the reception
room of the Cowasjee Jehangier Ophthalmic Hospital, to which there
is attached a room for cases for ophthalmos copic examination.
The patients are numerous; many of them of the better classes of
native society, and well able to pay for the relief they here receive
gratuitously ; and I would strongly urge the necessity of those pa-
tients, who are well known to be able to pay, to have their prescrip-
tions made up at druggists, shops, instead of at the hospital. The
dispensary expenses are defrayed by Government.
The success attending this institution, since the erection of the
hospital, is very remarkable ; the out-patients have continued to in-
crease in attendance, and now the daily average reaches the large
number of 128.9. The following is a short abstract of the chief dis-
* European and Native—
E. 168—N. 5,473.
eases treated. There were 5,641* cases, of
which 253 remained of previous year, 5,388
were fresh admissions ; 4.647 of these were
cured or relieved, 605 absented, and there remained 389.
The chief diseases treated were—
Conjunctivitis
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . 1,728
Keratitis ...
. . .
...
...
... 418
Opacity
...
...
...
...
... 372
Diseases of the iris
. . .
. . .
. . . 49
"
choroid and retina
... 417
Hard cataract
...
...
. . .
... 524
Disease of eyelid ...
...
...
... 309
Up to the 20th January 1872 Surgeon Sylvester, the Ophthalmic
Surgeon, held charge ; while acting as 1st Physician to the J. J. Hos-
pital temporary charge was at various times held by Assistant Sur-
geons Waters, Weir and Surgeon Hojel. Assistant Surgeon