12
REPORT ON THE
9. Particular diseases.— Small-pox. —This disease was more prevalent in
Calcutta during 1897 than in 1896, the number of deaths from this cause
among the general population having been 161, against 69 in the previous year.
The admissions to hospitals also rose from 57 in 1896 to 218 in 1897. With the
exception of one case, which was taken to the Medical College Hospital
for educational purposes, the rest, viz., 217, were treated in the special wards of
the Campbell Hospital, to which the municipal authorities of Howrah sent
a large number of sufferers of that town for treatment. The number of Euro-
peans and Eurasians admitted to the Campbell Hospital was 41, against
6 in 1896, and of " all others" 176 against 50. The total death-rate was
Cases. Deaths. Ratio per
cent
Confluent
. . . 59
41
68.49
Semi-confluent
... 81
12
14.81
Discrete
... 49
1
2.04
Modified
... 17
. . .
...
Hæmorrhagic
... 10
10
1 0 0 .
Corymbose
...
1
. . .
...
Total for 1897
... 217
64
29.49
Total for 1896
... 56
13
23.21
29.81, against 22.80 in the previous
year, which shows a more virulent
type of the disease during 1897.
Particulars of the 217 cases treated
in the Campbell Hospital are given
in the margin. Of the 217 patients,
146, or 67.28 per cent., were unpro-
tected, of whom 60 died, or 41.09
per cent. Fifty-eight are said to have
been vaccinated. Of these, only 4
died, or 6.89 per cent. In 2 of them the vaccinal scars were faint.
10.
Cholera. —Although this disease was less prevalent and fatal in Calcutta
during 1897 than in the previous year, the admissions to hospitals rose from
1,007 in 1896 to 1,200 in 1897. The increase is chiefly noticeable in the
Campbell Hospital, where a large number of cases was admitted from the cooly
depôts in Intally. Of the 1,200 cases, 36 were Europeans and Eurasians and
1,164 " all others." The total death-rate, however, was slightly less than in the
previous year, the figures having been 55.33 against 56.20 in 1896.
The death-rate amongst Europeans was the same as in 1896, viz., 55.55
per cent. Among " all others" it was slightly less—55.32 against 56.24. Of
the 36 European cases, 15 were treated in the Medical College Hospital, 16 in
the Presidency General Hospital, and 5 in the Howrah Hospital. The rate of
mortality was 40 per cent. in the first and last named institutions ; in the Presi-
dency General Hospital it was 75 per cent. As regards the lower death-rate in
the Medical College Hospital in 1897, the Principal says the plan of treatment
was the same as in previous years, and that he can therefore only attribute the
reduction to the milder type of the disease.
The relatively high rate of mortality in the Presidency General Hospital is
noticeable. This does not, however, reflect on the treatment. In isolated cases,
especially amongst seamen, this disease is always of a severe type, and it has
long been notorious that a very large proportion of such cases are fatal. More-
over, averages are misleading when small numbers are dealt with, such as 16 cases
and 12 deaths.
Of the 1,164 cases seen amongst other than Europeans and Eurasians, 535
were treated in the Campbell Hospital with 341 deaths, or 63.73 per cent.; 306
in the Mayo Hospital with 135 deaths, or 44.11 per cent.; 220 in the Medical
College Hospital with 91 deaths, or 41.36 per cent.; 90 in the Howrah General
Hospital with 68 deaths, or 75.55 per cent.; and 13 cases were distributed
between Presidency General, Chandney, Police and South Suburban Hospitals.
11. In last year's report it was stated that 26 cases of cholera originated in
the Campbell Hospital, of whom 19 died. It is gratifying to find that, notwith-
standing the overcrowding in this hospital throughout the year under report,
especially during the months of August, September and October, there was only
1 case of cholera of local origin. The patient died. The Medical College
Hospital, which for some years past enjoyed immunity in this respect, had 2
cases in 1897, viz., 1 European and 1 native. The Principal says the sanitary
condition of the hospital was as good as it could be, and the food was not at
fault. It is noteworthy that these two cases occurred at a time when cholera
was prevalent in the adjoining bustee. Precautionary measures were taken to
prevent the spread of the disease, and proved effective. There was no case
of cholera in the other hospitals.