CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
9
9. PARTICULAR DISEASES.—Small-pox.—In the town of Calcutta the number
of deaths from this cause was 2,220, against 405 in 1894. In the hospitals
there were 771 cases, against 177 in the preceding year. Seven hundred and
sixty-five of these were treated in the special wards of the Campbell Hospital.
The disease assumed epidemic form in the town in December 1894, but it reached
its climax in the months of January, February and March 1895, during which
104, 239 and 260 cases respectively were admitted into the small-pox hospital at
Sealdah. The number of Europeans and Eurasians admitted into the hospital
was, Dr. Gibbons says, much greater than in any previous epidemic. There were
Cases. Deaths.
Ratio
per cent.
Confluent
. . . 150
111
74.0
Semi-confluent .., 310
130
41.93
Discrete
... 235
12
5.10
Modified
...
4 1
. . .
...
Hæmorrhagic ...
29
26
89.65
Total for 1895 ... 765
279
3 6 . 4 7
Total for 1894 ... 176
70
39.77
213 cases, against 32 in 1894. The number
of natives was 552, against 144 in the previous
year. The particulars of these cases are
given in the margin. The death-rate, al-
though somewhat less than in 1894, was still
high. Besides these cases, 5 were treated
in the infectious ward of the Medical Col-
lege Hospital, the object being to give the
students an opportunity of getting a clinical
knowledge of the disease. The five patients were cured. No record was kept
whether the patients were protected or not. One case was also treated in the
contagious ward of the Police Hospital. It was one of abortive type, and
the patient was sent home on leave when convalescent.
Of the 765 cases treated at the small-pox hospital, Sealdah, 480, or
62.74, were unprotected. Among the latter there were 244 deaths, or 50.83 per
cent. Forty had been inoculated, of whom 6, or 15 per cent., died ; 6 had
small-pox ; two of these succumbed, or 33.33 per cent. Two hundred and
thirty-nine patients were said to have been vaccinated, of whom 27, or 11.29
per cent., died, the rate being a little more than one-fifth of that among the
unprotected cases. This proves the efficacy of vaccination beyond all ques-
tion. Of the 27 deaths among those vaccinated, 4 only had distinct scars, 2
had no scars, and in 21 the scars were indistinct. In 67 non-fatal cases there
were distinct scars—2 were confluent, 16 semi-confluent, 35 discrete and 14
modified. The small-pox hospital at Sealdah has beds for 39 Europeans and 38
natives. During January and February 1895, when these were fully occupied,
temporary sheds were run up to meet the epidemic which will long be remem-
bered for its virulence and intensity. Dr. Gibbons reports that early in March
he sent a letter to the Chairman of the Municipality pointing out the necessity
for additional accommodation, and after some delay Rs. 5,000 was placed at his
disposal to construct sheds on the municipal land adjoining the small-pox
hospital, but before the site was cleared the number of cases had diminished.
considerably, and the additional accommodation was not needed.
10. Cholera.—In Calcutta and Howrah the disease was more prevalent
and fatal than in 1894. The admissions into hospitals were also greater, 600 cases
having been treated, against 567 in the previous year. There were 349 deaths,
or 58.16 per cent., against 323 and 56.96 in 1894. The death-rate among Euro-
peans and Eurasians was 56.81, against 72.72 in the previous year. Of the 44
Europeans and Eurasians, 11 were treated at the Medical College Hospital, 21
at the Presidency General Hospital, and 12 at the Howrah Hospital. There
were 13 deaths at the Presidency General Hospital, against 9 in 1894, 8 of the
former occurring among seamen.
Five hundred and fifty-six patients of all other classes were treated
for cholera, against 545 in 1894, and the death-rate was 58.27 and 56.33,
respectively. At the Mayo Hospital there were 168 cases, at the Campbell
D