CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
19
performed from 1870 to 1877, 61 died, or 43.26 per cent.; of 32 similarly classified
including two cases remaining from the previous year in 1893, 3 died, or 9.37
per cent. The result is due to the gradual introduction of sanitary improve-
ments and to the adoption of a most intelligent and thorough system of antiseptic
treatment. It would be even better than it is, but for the fact that many
patients are admitted every year in a condition little favourable to recovery,
and this is especially the case in the obstetric department. Since this was
transferred to the Eden Hospital, the sanitary surroundings of the patients
have been enormously improved, yet the death-rate after operations has always
been high, and must remain so until the people learn to come to hospital in
time, and not delay, as is too frequently the case, till an operation, however
skillfully performed, is too late to save life.
27. The Presidency General Hospital —returns 111 major operations,
against 55 in 1892, but most of them were of a comparatively unimportant
nature. Thus 21 were for removal of enlarged glands, 16 for piles, 15 for the
radical cure of hydrocele, 5 for abdominal tapping. There were 2 amputations
and 5 operations for the radical cure of hernia. All these recovered. The death
rate was 6.25 against 12.28 per cent. in. 1892, but in the majority of the cases
the fatal result was due to the disease which rendered the operation necessary,
and not to the operation itself.
28. The Campbell Hospital—had 441 major operations against 356 in
1892, an increase of 85. Forty-eight of this increase were among out-patients,
the remaining 37 among in-patients. There were 37 operations for cataract,
and two remaining, of which 21 were successful, a very small percentage
(53.87), due perhaps to the poor condition of many of the patients on admission.
This probably accounts also for the larger mortality after amputations, 14.28
per cent. on all cases, but 20 per cent. among amputations of the thigh, leg, arm
and forearm. The numbers are, however, too small to give a true average.
There were 11 deaths among the 441 "major" operations, and 18 remaining
from the previous year, or 2.39 per cent., but this is a measure of the compara-
tively trifling nature of the operations rather than of special surgical skill.
Most of the operations, though classified as "major," are really of the simplest
kind. Thus there were 118 operations for the radical cure of hydrocele, 90 for
the opening of abscesses, 37 of abdominal tapping, 55 for the removal of glands,
and so on. Beyond the amputations, the really important operations were very
few. Lithotomy, perineal section and partial excision of the tongue were
r epr esent ed by one case each; t her e wer e 4 her ni ot omi es, 3 cases of exci si on
of bone, and 10 of removal of tumours. This is in striking contrast to the
surgical work done at Patna, Dacca and Cuttack, where the students have
abundant opportunities of acquiring, a real knowledge of surgery, and it is a great
misfortune that at the Campbell Hospital the chief vernacular medical school
in the province, the opportunities should be so limited. Until, however, a proper
surgical ward can be provided, no great improvement can be hoped for. The
surgical ward so called is at present a mere portion of the floor space common
to the whole hospital, and the character of a large number of the cases admitted
is such as to render surgical interference in the highest degree unsafe. Few
operations are done, therefore, unless they are absolutely necessary, and it would
be unfair to patients to do them. A separate surgical ward has been planned
and sanctioned, the iron work has arrived from England, and it is hoped that
the work may soon be put in hand.
29. The Mayo Hospital.—There were 538 major operations as compared
with 508 in 1892. The list includes 26 operations for cataract, 18 for excision
of the eyeball, 11 for stone, 2 herniotomies, 20 amputations, 14 operations for
stricture, 14 for removal of scrotal and 19 for other tumours. It also includes
264 operations for the radical cure of hydrocele formerly classed as a minor
operation. The mortality, taking all cases together, was only 1.27 (7 deaths)
against 3.08 (16 deaths) in 1892. After amputation, it was 10 per cent. for all
cases, 15.38 per cent. for arm, forearm, thigh and leg cases together. Four of
the 7 deaths took place after the opening of abscesses, tapping the chest and
abdomen, and were in no way connected with the operation; 68.96 per cent. of
the cataract cases including 3 remaining from 1892, were cured, vision being
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