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absence of this disease from the institutions, where only native patients are
received, is noticeable, especially in connexion with the belief entertained by some
that the natives of this country are to a great extent free from this disease.
But Dr. Pilcher remarks that this does not set aside the conviction of many
careful European and Native observers that enteric fever often attacks natives of
this country. The difficulty of distinguishing it from remittent fever renders
any definite opinion on this subject at present impossible. The Surgeon-General
with the Government of India recently enjoined extreme care in the diagnosis
of the disease, in the hope that some day the key to the difference between the
two diseases may be found.
6. The total number of major operations performed in all the institutions
shows an increase of 1,182. The increase is said to be due in a great measure
to a common class of operations (tapping for hydrocele) which have hitherto been
classed at the Medical College Hospital as minor operations having under recent
orders been included under this head. It is satisfactory to notice the general
reduction in the percentage of death after operation from 4.5 to 3.78, and the fact
that in the Howrah General Hospital it fell from 8.23 to 3.01. This result is
said to be due to the care and thoroughness with which the details of antiseptic
surgery have been carried out. The number of dental operations performed
was 2,362 against 2,275. There was a considerable increase in the number of
Europeans who sought relief for dental diseases, while the number of Eurasians
fell from 894 to 760. This result hardly bears out the remarks made in para-
graph 45 of the report for 1891, that the teeth of mixed are more prone to
decay than those of unmixed races.
7. In the Eden Hospital 1,609 women and children were treated against
1,811 in the previous year. Of these, 832 were Europeans, 746 Hindus or
Mussulmans, and 31 belonged to other classes. The daily average attendance of
Europeans shows the large decrease of 33 per cent. The reduction in the number
of admissions of European and native patients is attributed by Dr. Joubert to the
opening of the out-door department. There were 28 deaths among Europeans
and 67 among natives, as compared. with 32 and 65 of the previous year. The
number of confinement cases rose from 501 to 542, the mortality among this
class of cases being 26 against 21 in 1891. The number of cases of septicæmia
also rose from 24 to 31, giving a percentage of 5.7 on confinements as against
4.7 in 1891: of these 21 proved fatal. These figures show that the precautions
reported as having been taken against the occurrence of this disease have un-
fortunately not had much effect, and the Lieutenant-Governor would again
dwell on the necessity of using all possible means to minimize the chance of
its appearance or extension in the hospital. His Honour has already suggested
that isolation is the best way of treating it, and if funds can be provided, the
necessary steps will be taken to erect a separate ward for the treatment of this
disease.
8. The steady increase in the number of out-patients treated in the Shama
Churn Law Eye Infirmary points to the growing popularity of the Institution.
The principal operations performed were extraction of lens, iridectomy and
excision of the eye-ball. The operations for cataract were successful in 61 per
cent. of the cases which compares unfavourably with the results in the Howrah
Hospital, where the operations were successful in 87 per cent. of the cases treated.
9. In the Ezra Hospital, which is intended chiefly for the sick of the
Jewish persuasion, 1,555 out-patients and 350 in-patients were treated, the
daily average attendance being 10.6 and 16.91 respectively against 12.63 and
16.73 in 1891. These low figures hardly bear out the Inspector-General's remarks
that the Institution has fulfilled the beneficent object of its founder.
10. The nursing arrangements of the Medical College and General Hospitals
continue to work satisfactorily: grateful testimony to the efficiency and skill
of the nurses is frequently received, and the Lieutenant-Governor desires
to place on record his appreciation of the good work done by them. Two trained
European nurses have been employed in the Howrah General Hospital, but they
are not connected with the Hospital Nurses' Institution. Fourteen pupil nurses
and eight pupil dhais passed out of the Eden Hospital.
11. The invested capital belonging to the hospitals remains the same as in,
1891, viz., Rs. 5,83,000, of which more than half belongs to the Mayo Institutions,