( 5 )
EXPENDITURE.
1897.
1898.
Rs.
Rs.
Establishment
. . .
. . .
... 2,68,502
2,65,434
Bazar medicines
. . .
. . .
. . .
5,791
5,338
European medicines
...
. . .
...
41,152
66,325
Diet
. . .
. . .
... 1,41,662
1,34,696
Miscellaneous charges ...
. . .
... 1,12,384
88,946
Buildings and repairs ...
. . .
... 1,63,550
4,27,953
Total
... 7,33,041
9,88,692
Invested during the year
...
. . .
600
3,500
Closing balance
. . .
...
...
29,806
28,294
GRAND TOTAL
... 7,63,447 10,20,486
16. Excluding the opening balance, the total income amounted to
Rs. 9,90,680, against Rs. 7,29,502 in the preceding year. The cost to Govern-
ment increased by Rs. 2,60,945, due mainly to the construction of new
buildings at the Campbell and Presidency General Hospitals. In the former a
new block for female patients was constructed at a cost of Rs. 48,000, an
admirably roomy and well-ventilated structure, which the Lieutenant-Governor
regards as a model for hospital buildings in Calcutta. In the latter Rs. 2,44,000
were expended in building a new male block and in other alterations. Receipts
from paying patients show an increase of Rs. 5,630, which is attributed to the
admission of a larger number of patients at the Presidency General Hospital.
There was a reduction of Rs. 5,026 in the receipts from local funds, due to the
admission of fewer seamen into the Medical College, Presidency and Howrah
General Hospitals. The income from municipal funds shows an increase of
Rs. 4,883 (the result of a different system of accounts), while the miscellaneous
receipts show a falling off of Rs. 6,403. The receipts under this latter head
were unusually high in the preceding year owing to a donation from the Famine
Relief Fund for the treatment of pauper patients. The total expenditure rose
from Rs. 7,33,041 to Rs. 9,88,692, the increase being chiefly observable under the
heads " Buildings and Repairs," the sum spent on which rose from Rs. 1,63,550
to Rs. 4,27,953, and " European medicines," which absorbed Rs. 66,325, as
compared with Rs. 41,152 in the preceding year. The increase under the
latter head occurred chiefly at the Medical College Hospital, which was supplied
with a large stock of modern surgical instruments and appliances from England.
17. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to notice that numerous improve-
ments have been carried out at the several hospitals. Very large sums are
being spent on the reconstruction and improvement of the Presidency General
and Medical College Hospitals, which he does not doubt will greatly add to
their efficiency and usefulness, but he is pleased to see that smaller matters do
not escape the notice of the Inspector-General, and that almost everywhere
little changes are being introduced, which do not cost much, and yet which
all help to promote the comfort of the patients. His Honour takes this
opportunity of expressing his deep regret at the death of Major J. F. Evans,
Resident Physician and Pathologist to the Medical College, who succumbed to
his devoted labours in the treatment of plague cases at that institution. His
death removed from the Indian Medical Service an officer of exceptional
promise.
18. Colonel Hendley was Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals throughout
the year, and the thanks of the Lieutenant-Governor are due to him for his
frequent and careful inspections of the Calcutta hospitals and his valuable
suggestions for reforms in their structural and administrative arrangements.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
E. W. COLLIN,
Offg. Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.