30
REPORT ON THE
bazâr medicines, diet, miscellaneous charges, and buildings and repairs.
Regarding the increase of Rs. 2,238-10-2 in the cost of European medicines, the
Principal states that the figures for 1894, viz. Rs. 9,735-2-5, were roughly
calculated by him, but subsequently the statement of cost furnished by the
Accountant-General showed that the actual expenditure on medicines and
instruments was Rs. 15,503-9-6. Compared with these figures, the cost for
1895, he says, was much less. This is an item of expenditure which demands
the attention of the Principal.
60.
Chuni _Lal Seals Dispensary.— The total expenditure showed an
increase of Rs. 103-8-1 in 1895. It had an opening balance of Rs. 361-14-4.
Owing to the conversion of 4 per cent. Government securities, its invested
capital yielded Rs. 1,750 as interest against Rs. 2,000. Government ordered
that the reduction in the income shall be met from the grant allotted for the
purpose. As the expenditure in 1895 exceeded the income by Rs. 147-1, the
amount was paid by Government.
61. Presidency General Hospital.— The total number of patients treated
daily was 197 . 82 in (including all patients) and 26 . 54 out-patients, against
189 . 26 and 7.48 respectively. There were savings under the head of menial
establishment, bazâr and European medicines, and miscellaneous charges. The
increase of Rs. 2,618-12-4 in the cost of diet is attributable to the larger
number of patients treated. Quadrennial repairs accounted for the increase of
Rs. 8,947 under the head of buildings and repairs. Notwithstanding this large
increase the Government contribution was only more by Rs.2,226-3-1. The
reason is that the institution expended, in accordance with the remarks in
paragraph 61 of my report for 1894, the excess of income of Rs. 9,952-4-7 which
was included in the closing balance of that year. The increase under the head.
of salaries of medical officers has been explained before. The total cost to
Government would have been actually reduced if the receipts from the Port
Fund had not been less by Rs. 4,208.
62. Campbell Hospital.—The total expenditure was more by Rs. 16,965-9-7.
The increase occurred under the head of compounders, dressers, menial and
other servants, diet, bazâr medicines, miscellaneous charges, and buildings and
repairs. The increase under each head of establishment has already been
explained before. I would remark that a very large establishment is main-
tained at this hospital, and I am doubtful whether the requirements of the
institution demand it. Besides the medical staff and the Deputy Superinten-
dent there are 188 persons on the sanctioned list. There are, for instance,
48 coolies, 47 sweepers, 25 nurses and dhais, 16 bhisties and watermen, 5 com-
pounders, 4 dressers, and 20 other servants, such as diet sircars, engine drivers,
tailors, &c. During my inspection in February last of Sir Jamsetji Jijibhoy's
Hospital in Bombay, which closely resembles the Campbell Hospital, I was
furnished with a list of establishment attached to it and I find there are 96
servants in all. There are no bhisties only 16 sweepers. In fact the
scale of establishment is as modest as it need be. The differences pointed
out above are very striking and it would not be unreasonable to state
that this hospital is more economically managed than the Campbell Hospital.
The presence of 47 sweepers, 16 bhisties, 16 dhais and nurses in the latter
would show that the establishment has been drawn up on an extravagant
scale. The matter is a fit subject for the consideration of a Committee,
and if one were appointed I should be glad to render it all possible assistance.
The cost of diet showed an increase of Rs. 1,899-0-2, due to the larger
number of paying and non-paying small-pox patients treated in 1895. The
increase in the cost of bazâr medicines (Rs. 69-2-8) was due to greater
demands. The cost of European medicines, however, fell off by Rs. 912-4-2,
which is accounted for by the less daily average number of both in and
out-patients. Miscellaneous charges increased by 1,756-3-6. This is fully
accounted for by the Superintendent in his report. Milk.jugs, tea-pots, knives
and lamps were purchased for the European small-pox ward, and new beds and.
furniture for the new surgical ward. Besides these there are many other items
too numerous to detail. Building charges show an increase of Rs. 12,484-5-1,
due to the construction of a lying-in-ward, to supply of filtered water to the
small-pox wards, to greater supply of unfiltered water, to quadrennial repairs,