( 5 )
18. The suggestion made in last year’s resolution that certain items
of expenditure in several of the hospitals were capable of reduction appears
to have received attention. A reduction was effected in the sums spent on
European medicines at the Mayo Hospital, and the returns show that the
amount expended on the salaries of compounders and dressers was consider
-ably less than in the preceding year.
19. The South Suburban Hospital was opened to the public on 1st August,
the entire cost of its construction having been met by Government. The
Municipal Commissioners contribute Rs. 5,203 a year, including the annual
subsidy from the trust funds in their possession, towards the maintenance of
the hospital, and appoint two out of the six governors by whom the institution
is managed, Government appointing the remaining four. The hospital is
reported to be working satisfactorily. It has since its opening been daily
crowded both with indoor and outdoor patients, and there is no doubt that
its erection has met a want long felt in that part of the town.
20. During July and August a specially appointed Committee enquired
into the structural defects of the Presidency General Hospital, and submitted
a carefully considered scheme for its reconstruction, which was accepted by
Government. The land required for the purpose has already been acquired,
but the demands of the present year on the finances of the province,
which were not then foreseen, have delayed the execution of the scheme.
Every effort will, however, be made to carry out the Committee’s recom
- m e n d a t i o n s , a s s o o n a s f u n d s p e r m i t . M e a n w h i l e , a s e c o n d C o m m i t t e e
has lately been appointed to report how the existing defects of the hospital can
best be remedied, to examine the nursing arrangements, the supply of bedding,
linen and clothing, the general system of supervision and the adequacy of the
staff of servants, and to suggest rules for management. The report of this
Committee has not yet been received. An estimate of Rs. 87,317 has been
passed for the improvement and enlargement of the out-door dispensary at the
Medical College Hospital, while a sum of Rs. 57,000 has been allotted for the
purchase of beds and instruments for the hospital. For the improvement of
the Campbell Hospital, Rs. 63,564 have been granted for the extension of the
outdoor department, which in future will have separate accommodation for each
sex.
21. The office of Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals was held for the
greater part of the year by Surgeon-Colonel G. C. Ross, who was unfortunately
compelled by ill-health to take furlough in March last, previous to retirement.
He was succeeded by Surgeon-Colonel J. H. Newman, by whom the present
report has been submitted. The Lieutenant-Governor takes this opportunity
of expressing his sense of obligation to Dr. Ross for the energetic measures he
took to initiate much-needed reforms in the medical institutions in Calcutta.
His Honour’s thanks are also due to Dr. Newman for his clear and concise
report.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
C. E. A. W. OLDHAM,
Ofg. Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.
No. 4480Medl.
COPY forwarded to Inspector-General, Civil Hospitals, Bengal, for infor-
mation.
Nos. 4481-83Medl.
COPY of the Resolution and of the report forwarded to the
(1) Chairman_ of the
(2) Commissioner of
(3) Sanitary Cor
m-
Corporation of Calcutta
Police, Calcutta
missioner, Beugal
for information.