3
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
sheds which were erected for 300 patients. There are always a number of
incurable or chronic invalids in the hospital, some of whom have been inmates
for many years. The building is not well suited to the purpose for which it is
put, but new wards are b e i n g c o n s t r u c t e d w h i c h w i l l r e m e d y s o m e o f t h e e v i l s
which at present exist. The increase in the South Suburban Hospital has
already been referred to in a previous paragraph as being due to the grow-
ing popularity of that institution. There was greater sickness amongst
the members of the Calcutta Police Force during 1897 than in the previous
year, the increase being chiefly due to debility and anæmia, which was
probably the result of insufficient nourishment owing to the dearness of provi-
sions. The increase in the Medical College Hospital proper was confined to
natives, who suffered from the effects of the scarcity that prevailed. The
small increases in the Eye and Mayo Hospitals do not call for comment. The
large falling off in the Presidency General Hospital is noticeable. It is said
to be due to the closure for several months for repairs of the central, surgical
and female wards, which were much damaged by the earthquake. This may
account for a portion of the decrease, but there was also a falling off in 1896.
It is well known, however, that the institution has been unpopular for some-
time, and that special enquiries have been made regarding it. It is confidently
hoped that reforms which have been set on foot and the construction of a new
hospital will lead to a very necessary change for the better. The cause of the
decrease in indoor patients in the Chandney and Dufferin Victoria Hospitals
has already been explained in paragraph 3. I am not satisfied that the
explanations given of diminished attendance at some of the other institutions
are satisfactory, but as I was not in office during the year under review,
and have only recently taken over charge, I prefer to postpone further remarks
on the subject until another occasion.
The number of cases of "no appreciable diseases" in the Presidency
General Hospital was 61, or 32 more than in 1896. The increase was due to
a larger number of attendants on patients.
5. The following table shows the numbers of men, women and children
treated as in and out-patients at each of the Calcutta hospitals and at the
Howrah General Hospital, classified according to race, nationality or religion.
The daily average numbers of men, women and children and their percentages
are also given :—
NAMES OF THE
INSTITUTIONS.
TOTAL TREATED DURING THE
YEAR.
CLASS
DAILY ATTENDANCE.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Average number.
Ratio per cent. of
—
M e n .
W o m e n .
C h i l d r e n .
T o t a l . E u r o p e a n s .
E u r a s i a n s .
M u h a m m a d a n s .
H i n d u s .
O t h e r c l a s s e s .
M e n .
W o m e n .
C h i l d r e n .
T o t a l .
M e n .
W o m e n .
C h i l d r e n .
T o t a l .
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Medical College
Hospital proper Indoor 3,620
953
99 4,672 308 993
852 2,232 287 177.98 49.24 3.53 230.75 77.13 21.34
1. 53 100
Outdoor 26,512 5,769 4,143 36,424 2,176 4,220 9,858 19,020 1,150 188.15 36.22 16.52 240.89 78.11 15.03 6.56
1 0 0
Total
. . . 30,132 6,722 4,242 41,096 2,484 5,213 10,710 21,252 1,437 366.13 85.46 20.05 471.64 77.63 18.12 4.25 100
Eden Hos-
pital.
Indoor
...
1,320 275 1,595
220
501
93 608
173 ...
51.09 16.70 67.79 ...
75.37 24.63 100
Outdoor ...
1,327 2,484 3,811
283 1,580
539 1,211
198 ...
5.32 13.32 18.64
. . .
28.54 71.46 100
Total ... ...
2,647 2,759 5,406
503 2,081
632 1,819
371 ...
56.41 30.02 86.43 ...
65.27 34.73 100
Ezra Hos-
pital.
Indoor
85
61
32
178 ...
. . .
. . .
. . .
178 5.63
2.95 1.05 9.63 58.46 30.64 10.90 100
Outdoor
410
286
367 1,063 ...
...
. . .
. . . 1,063 2.40
2.50 3.04 7.94 30.23 31.48 38.29 100
Total ... 495
347
399 1,241 ...
. . .
. . . ...
1 , 2 4 1 8.03
5.45 4.09 17.57 45.70 31.02
23. 28 100
Shama Churn Law
Eye Hos-
pital.
Indoor
402
145
7
554
12
7 161
369
5 33.06 7.12
. 7 4 40.92 80.79 17.40 1.81 100
Outdoor 8,380 4,849 2,712 15,941
9 8 0 1.187 3,514 8,762 1,498 89.29 40.53 28.63 158.45 56.35 25.58 18.07 100
Total ... 4,782 4,994 2,719 16,495 992 1,194 3,675 9,131 1,503 122.35 47.65 29.37 199.37 61.37 23.90 14.73 100
2