32
REPORT ON THE
Mysore, which, it is said, was invested during the year. These two sums give
a total of Rs. 3,32,935-8. The total amount invested was Rs. 3,34,921-14-5,
i.e ., the Governors purchased 4 per cent. Port Trust debentures valuing
Rs. 3,00,000 at a cost of Rs. 3,30,000, and Government securities to the value of
Rs. 4,700 at a cost of Rs. 4,921-14-5. It will be noticed that the total amount
expended for investments was more by Rs. 1,986-6-5 than the amount available
for the purpose. It would seem clear that this money was taken from the
ordinary income of the hospital, and the utilisation was possible because of the
large annual grant paid by Government.
At the Chandney Hospital there was an increase of Rs. 1,196-13-9 in the
total expenditure, which is attributed by the Superintendent to the appoint-
ment of a lady-doctor by the Governors, to the purchase of furniture, and to
repairs done to the drains of the hospital. The cost of European medicines,
viz. Rs. 675-7-6, shown for the first time in the accounts of this hospital, also
in some measure explains the increase. The excess in the Park Street and
Sukea’s Street dispensaries was mainly due to the inclusion of the cost of
European medicines.
65. Bhawanipur Dispensary. —The cost for the upkeep of this institution
is met by the Calcutta Municipality. It also receives interest from its invested
funds. The total expenditure was Rs. 2,226-7-9, against Rs. 2,672-6-9 in 1894.
The figures for the latter year include the cost of new surgical instruments.
66. Howrah General Hospital.—The total expenditure was Rs. 30,084-6-10,
or Rs. 3,552-14-5 more than in the previous year. The amount contributed by
Government was Rs. 5,326-14-5, against Rs. 5,335-1-7 in 1894. The total
receipts from other sources rose from Rs. 25,178-4-7 to Rs. 30,008-11-8 in the year
under report. The amount contributed by the Municipality shows an increase
of Rs. 1,200, due to the payment of arrears. Subscriptions from Europeans
also increased owing to the collection of arrears and payments received from the
European firms on account of extra nurses employed for their sick employés.
The amount received from the Port Fund also shows an increase of Rs. 2,684,
which is explained by the admission of a larger number of sick seamen. Under
the head of salaries of medical officers there was an increase of Rs. 250, which
was duo to the Military Assistant Surgeon having drawn the increased pay
granted in November 1894 throughout the year under report. The increase
under the head of diet, bazar and European medicines was due to the increase
in the number of patients. New surgical instruments were also obtained in 1895.
The increase in the miscellaneous charges of Rs. 780-3-9 is attributed to a
larger number of patients and to the purchase of furniture for the private wards.
Quadrennial repairs were undertaken in 1894, and the balance of the cost was
paid in 1895. This explains the excess under the head of building and repairs.
The income of the institution was not only sufficient to meet the total expendi-
ture, but it enabled the hospital authorities to invest Es. 4,500 in Government
securities, and to show a large cash balance of Rs. 6,107-7-6 at the end of 1895.
The improvements in the hospital, which were noticed in paragraph
66 of my report for last year, were completed in the beginning of the current
year. The Government grant for the purpose came up to Rs. 15,621, which
will be shown in the accounts of 1896. The general working of the hospital
was very satisfactory during the year. The number of European and Native
patients (in and out) increased. The number of operations was also more
than in 1894. The Superintendent, Dr. R. D. Murray, remarks that the
municipal contribution of Rs. 300 per mensem does not cover half the cost
of the native department, and the funds of the European part of the hospital
are largely devoted to its upkeep. He concludes by saying that the municipal
contribution to the hospital should be increased.
67. As usual, the staff of medical officers attached to the hospitals and the
improvements done during the year are noticed below:—
Medical College Hospital.—Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel G. Bomford, M.D.,
was in charge of the hospital throughout the year. Surgeon-Lieutenant-
Colonel J. F. P. McConnell, M.D., held the office of the Second Physician
from 1st January to 8th May, and again from 11th November to the end of
the year. From 9th May to 10th November the post was held by Surgeon-
Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. Dutt. Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel J. O’Brien was