CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
Surgical operations.—There were 726 principal and 420secondary opera-
tions, or in all 1,146 performed on 724
patients. The decrease as compared
with 1896 was chiefly due to the ex-
clusion from the returns of the fre-
quent passing of catheters in the same
individual. There were 412 such
operations, viz., 112 principal and
300 secondary, in 1897. The latter
were not cases of repeated catheter-
ism, but operations performed in
connection with "principal" opera-
tions. The list of some of the im-
portant operations performed during
1897 is given in the margin.
Of the 13 cases in which ovariotomy was performed, 11. were successful.
The operations were all of a grave nature, and it should be noted that the results
of abdominal surgery were far more favourable than in 1896. Almost all the
important operations were performed by Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
C. H. Joubert, who was in charge of the hospital throughout the year, and he is to
be congratulated on his success, particularly in regard to the reduced mortality.
44. Shama Churn Law Eye Hospital. —The statistics of this hospital are
given in the statements in the Appendix. The number of house-patients treated
was 554, against 517 in 1896. Out-patients numbered 15,941, against 13,206
in the previous year. The increase is attributed to the growing popularity
of the department. The daily average attendance was 158.45, against 161.34
in 1896. The number of operations was 1,197, of which 327 were extractions
of lens for cataract. Taking the cases which remained from the previous year,
the number was 364, vision being restored in 83.24 per cent. There was one
death due to senile decay.
45. Ezra Hospital. —The statistics of this institution will be found in the
Appendix. There were 178 in-patients, or a daily average of 9.63, against
205 and 13.92, respectively, in 1896. The hospital has accommodation for
20 patients, but only half the number of beds were occupied daily which
is due to its benefits being limited to a particular class. The falling off in 1897
was due to the closure of the hospital owing to quadrennial repairs. The number
of outdoor patients fell from 1,611 to 1,063 in 1897, which has already been
commented on in paragraph 3. The number of operations was 23, against 11
in 1896.
46. Nursing and Nursing Staff. —The Principal of the Medical College
reports that, although there was greater efficiency in nursing in 1897, there is
yet great room for improvement. The staff consisted of one Sister Superinten-
dent, one matron, 13 senior nurses, 17 junior nurses and probationers, and two
nurses for the contagious disease and cholera wards. The average number of
nurses employed during the year was 29.50.
47. There is only one nurse attached to the Ezra Hospital who performed
her work well, but the Principal reports that one nurse is not sufficient. The
nurse remains on duty during the whole day, and at night the patients are left
to the care of the menial establishment. This arrangement not only destroys
the usefulness of the hospital, but is a great defect. The Principal says that he
applied for the services of another nurse to the Committee of the Lady Can-
ning Home, who, however, could not afford to supply more. The nursing at
the Eye Hospital was fairly good.
48. At the Eden Hospital the establishment was composed of one Sister, one
matron, four ward nurses, among whom there were four changes, one surgical
nurse, who was changed once, and four dhais, including the one for the surgical
ward. The Obstetric Physician reports that during the latter half of the year
there was a change of sisters, and the nursing was much more satisfactorily
done than in the previous year. Lately, he says, a thoroughly efficient sister
with years of hospital experience, has arrived from England, and there is
every prospect now of the nursing being well improved and efficiently
conducted.
49. The Surgeon-Superintendent of the Presidency General Hospital
reports that the nursing was conducted on the same lines as in previous years
21
43.
Application of forceps
. . .
... 61
Version
. . .
. . .
... 19
Ovariotomy . . .
. . .
... 13
Removal of parovarian cyst
... 2
Removal of uterine appendages and
ectopic gestation.
14
Cæsarian section
. . .
. . . 1
Nephro-lithotomy
...
... 1
Letholapaxy
. .
. . .
... 1
Vesico-vaginal fistula
...
... 3
Nephrorrhaphy . . .
. . .
... 1
Colotomy and perineal operation for
imperforate anus.
6
Ventral hernia ...
. . .
... 2
Laparotomy
. . .
. . . 13
Hysterectomy (abdominal) ...
... 10
Ditto (vaginal)
. . .
... 1
Craniotomy
...
...
... 6
Decapitation ...
...
... 5