( 3 )
9. The admissions to hospital on account of dysentery increased. from
8,383 to 9,206, and the death-rate from 30.17 to 32.17. Sixty per cent. of
the cases were treated in the Campbell Hospital, where the rate of mortality
under this head reached 42.36, while among native patients at the Howrah
Hospital it amounted to 53.94. Both of these hospitals always receive a
large number of moribund cases, and at Howrah the majority of these are
said to have been pilgrims. Diarrhœa cases fell off by 99, and the death-rate
decreased from 35.86 to 32.37. The number of in-patients treated for malarial
fever rose from 4,059 to 5,107, and of out-patients from 49,676 to 54,149. In
the Presidency General Hospital the number of Europeans and Eurasians
admitted increased from 181 to 437, and the Superintendent observes that the
increase was most marked among residents of Calcutta. The total death-
rate, however, fell from 12.21 to 8.73. The number of persons treated for
venereal diseases increased by 255, but the more serious cases show a decrease.
Leprosy patients numbered only 17, half the number of 1894. The new Leper
Asylum has not yet been built, but a site has been selected at Gobra, and
the plan is under consideration.
10. Major operations numbered 3,775, against 3,643 in the previous year;
124 ended fatally, giving a death-rate of 3.15, as compared with 3.4 in 1894.
The Campbell Hospital showed an increase of 112 major operations, but such
an increase was to be expected, seeing that a separate surgical ward had been
opened in the hospital during the year, and the Lieutenant-Governor hopes
that the surgical work of the current year will show a further improvement.
At the Medical College Hospital 2,117 major operations were performed, being
18 less than in 1894; the death-rate was 3.33 against 3.44. At the Dufferin
Victoria Hospital there was a decrease of 14 in the number of major operations.
11. The total n umber of women and children admitted at the Eden Hospi
-tal fell from 1,462 to 1,453, of whom 718 were Europeans, 581 Hindus
and Muhammadans, while 154 belonged to other classes. The death-rate for
Europeans was 6.23 and for the others 12.56 and 7.59, respectively; the figures
for the previous year being 5.48, 10.59 and 6.80. The mortality among
Hindu and Muhammadan children was remarkably high, 46.15 against 33.89 in
1894; the lower rate of 15.67 among European children is explained by their
being brought to hospital at an earlier stage of disease. Confinement cases
decreased from 618 to 546 ; but of these only 34 proved fatal, against 23 in the
previous year. There was an increase of 2 in cases of septicæmia ; but out of
the 25 cases which occurred, only 7 originated within the hospital, against 14
in the previous year. The Inspector-General has no doubt that septicæmia
is to a certain extent introduced into the hospital by persons admitted with septic
symptoms. A separate ward for such patients was opened in June 1895, and
it is hoped that the segregation of these cases will have a good effect. There
were 357 major operations performed in the hospital, 30 of which ended in
death. This compares unfavourably with the figures of the previous year
—
12.
392 with 26 deaths. Minor operations, rose from 2,747 to 4,803, and at the
out-door department the number of patients increased from 3,990 to 7,083.
Since the close of the year under review, attention has been drawn to certain
defects in the structural arrangements of the Eden Hospital, and a Committee
has been appointed to consider and report on the subject.
13. In the Shama Churn Law Eye Hospital the number of in-door patients
decreased from 506 to 452: that of out-patients, on the other hand, rose from
11,964 to 13,725. Operations for extraction of the lens numbered 328, of
which 252, or 76.82 per cent., were successful.
14. The Ezra Hospital showed a decrease both in in-door and out-door
patients: the number of the former fell from 287 to199, and of the latter
from 1,674 to 1,624. Although beds for 20 patients were provided, the daily
average of sick was only 13.20. The total cost of the hospital was Rs. 6,107-12,
to which Government contributed Rs. 5,231-12, or 85.65 per cent.
15. The work of the nurses at the Medical College and the Presidency
General Hospitals, under the supervision of the Clewer Sisters, is favourably
reported on by the Inspector-General. At the Campbell and Howrah Hospitals
nurses locally selected appear to have-given satisfaction. Seventeen nurses and
eleven dhais passed out of the Eden Hospital during the year.