14
REPORT ON THE
follows:—"There has been a great decrease in dysentery mortality, but a
corresponding increase under diarrhœa. These diseases occur in the same class
of patients, and it is difficult to separate them clinically."
28. Malarial fevers.— The mortality from fever in the town of Calcutta was
1897. 1898.
In-patients
... 4,604 4,429
Out-patients
... 41,421 32,847
Total
... 46,025 37,276
less in 1898. The admissions to hospitals also show
a decrease. The total number of patients "in" and
"out" are shown in the margin. The main cause
of the falling off in the numbers treated has been
explained previously. It was highly probable that
persons suffering from slight malarial fever would
decamp to avoid being detained on account of plague as they supposed they
might be. The total death-rate was 6.72 per cent., against 11.38 in 1897.
Among Europeans it was 2.37 per cent. and among other classes 7.87, against
3.32 and 12.45, respectively, in 1897.
29. Venereal diseases.— It will be seen from the figures in the mar gin that
1888
. . .
... 12,920
1889
...
... 12,793
1890
...
... 12,326
1891
...
... 11,886
1892
...
... 13,072
1893
...
... 14,483
1894
...
... 13,419
1895
...
... 13,674
1896
...
... 14,216
1897
...
... 14,523
1898
...
... 10,550
the total number of in and out-patients treated in all
the institutions in Calcutta, including the Voluntary
Venereal Hospitals, decreased by 3,973. The decrease
occurred in all the institutions, except the Presi-
dency General Hospital, which shows an excess of
143 cases, and the Dufferin Victoria Hospital of 3.
The falling off is mainly accounted for by the
plague scare. The Superintendent of the Presi-
dency General Hospital cannot account for the
increase in that institution.
The numbers treated for the two worst forms of venereal diseases are shown
below:—
Primary
syphilis.
Secondary
syphilis.
Primary
syphilis.
Secondary
syphilis.
1888
...
4,684
4,422
1894
...
4,622
3,432
1889
...
4,752
4,502
1895
...
4,478
3,377
1890
...
4,000
3,247
1896
. . .
4,469
3,610
1891
...
3,903
3,241
1897
...
3,878
4,555
1892
...
4,109
3,348
1898
...
2,062
3,620
1893
...
4,878
3,622
30. Tuberculous diseases—Gave 558 admissions, against 442 in the previous
year. The death-rate also rose from 36.42 per cent. in 1897 to 38.70 in 1898.
The admissions chiefly increased in the Campbell Hospital, where 243 cases were
treated, against 113 in the previous year. The Superintendent states that a large
number of cases of pulmonary phthisis was admitted in the year under report.
The death-rate in this institution, however, shows a diminution, it having been
51.44 per cent., against 61.06 in the previous year. The highest mortality again
occurred in the Howrah General Hospital, where 25 out of the 29 among other
classes died, or 86.20 per cent., against 71.42 in the previous year. In this
institution 8 Europeans and Eurasians were treated, with three deaths, or
37.5 per cent., against 25 per cent. in the previous year. It is noticeable that
the mortality among Europeans and Eurasians at the Presidency General
Hospital was greater than in the previous year, the death-rate having been
37.5 per cent., against 9.89 in 1897. The Superintendent states "that all
the admissions were for pulmonary tuberculosis only, except 1 for general
tuberculosis. I can find no evidence on which a satisfactory explanation of
the higher mortality can be based."
31. Respiratory diseases, including diseases of the lungs—Were responsible for
1,542 admissions, against 1,839 in 1897. Influenza was more common in the
first part of the year. It did not, however, appear in an epidemic form. The
cause of the falling off in the numbers of patients has been explained before.
The number of deaths was 280, or 18.15 per cent., against 429 and 23 . 23, respec-
tively, in 1897. The number of cases treated for diseases of the lungs alone
was 683, against 910 in 1897, the rate of mortality being 26.64 per cent. and
31.75, respectively.