REPORT ON THE
Superintendent of the Hospital has been drawn to the matter, and he will be
instructed to enter the contributions in future accounts.
65. Dufferin Victoria Hospital. —The expenditure of this institution is
controlled by a Special Committee, and it is not necessary to discuss it here.
66. Howrah General Hospital. —The total expenditure, exclusive of the
amount invested during the year, was Rs. 45,693-9-11, against Rs. 30,084-6-10
in 1895. The amount contributed by Government was Rs. 21,759-14-7, against
Rs. 5,326-14-5 in the previous year, or an increase of Rs. 16,433-0-2, which
was chiefly due to the grant of Rs. 15,621 for improvements in the hospital
buildings. Municipal contribution showed a decrease of Rs. 600, which is
explained by the fact that in 1895 a similar sum was realised as arrears.
Receipts from paying patients amounted to Rs. 3,981-8, against Rs. 4,384-15
in 1895. The decrease is accounted for by fewer patients of this class. The
contributions from the Port Fund also fell off owing to the admission of fewer
seamen. Subscriptions from Europeans show a reduction of Rs. 387-12-4.
The expenditure on the different items is noted in the margin The in
24
1895.
1896.
Rs. A. P.
Rs. A. P.
Salaries of Medical Officers
... 6,060 0 0
6,285 0 0
„ of nursing establishment ... 1,820 0 0
1,560 0 0
„ of compounders, dressers, &c. 1,908 0 0
1,911 0 0
„ of menial servants
... 3,209 13 0
3,467 13 0
Bazar medicines
. . .
...
935 7 3
968 4 6
European ,,
. . .
... 1,015 14 8
1,264 3 10
Diet
. . .
. . .
. . . 7,151 4 8
7,533 4 10
Miscellaneous charges . . .
... 5,769 5 3
6,722 1 11
Building and repairs
,,,
,.. 2,214 10 0
15,981 13 10
Invested
...
. . .
... 4,500 0 0
2,000 0 0
Total
... 34,584 6 10
47,693 9 11
crease in the salaries of
Medical Officers was due
to the pay of the Military
Assistant Surgeon having
been raised from Rs. 275
to Rs. 300 by the Hospital
Committee. The cost on
account of the salaries of
menial servants increased
owing to the employment
of extra attendants for the
infectious ward. Under
the head of salaries of compounders, dressers, &c., there was a small in-
c r e a s e . T h e c o s t o f n u r s i n g e s t a b l i s h m e n t s h o w s a s a v i n g i n 1 8 9 6 . T h e r e
was an increase in the cost of European medical stores, due to the fact that
some unserviceable instruments were replaced by new ones. The increase under
the head of bazar medicines was slight. Diet cost Rs. 382-0-2 more than in
1895, although the daily average number of patients was less. The Super-
intendent says that there were many chronic cases, to whom extras and stimu-
lants were freely given. Purchase of crockery, furniture and new bedding
and clothing accounts for the increase of Rs. 952-12-8 in the miscellaneous
c h a r g e s . T h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e c o s t o f b u i l d i n g s a n d r e p a i r s h a s a l r e a d y b e e n
noticed and explained. The hospital was able to invest Rs. 2,000 in 3½
per cent. Government securities out of the savings of the year.
67. The staff of Medical Officers and the improvements effected during
the year are mentioned below :—
Medical College Hospital. —Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel G. Bamford, M.D.,
was in charge of the hospital from 1st January to 18th February,
and again from 20th May to 31st December 1896. From 19th February
to 19th May the office was held by Surgeon-Captain F. J. Drury. The
post of Second Physician was held by Brigade Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel
J. F. P. McConnell from 1st January until his untimely and lamented
death on the 24th August ; by Surgeon-Captain F. J. Drury from 26th
August to 11th October, and by Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel E. G. Russell
from 12th October to the end of the year. Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colo-
nel J. O' Brien held charge of the office of First Surgeon from 1st January to
13th April and again from 14th November to the close of the year. From
the 14th April to 13th November the post was held by Surgeon-Lieutenant-
Colonel R. D. Murray. Surgeon-Major R. H. Charles held charge of the office
of Second Surgeon throughout the year. The post of Ophthalmic Surgeon
was held by Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel R. C. Sanders all through the
year. Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Joubert held the office of the
Obstetric Physician from 1st January to 12th April and again from 12th
November to the close of the year. From 13th April to 11th November the
post was held by Surgeon-Major A Leahy.