(3)
treated for venereal diseases rose from 13,674 to 14,216, the more serious
cases also showing an increase. Twenty-two cases of leprosy were treated
during the year, 15 of which were dealt with in the Campbell Hospital. There
were 23 cases of enteric fever and 1,075 cases of remittent fever, against 22
and 1,072, respectively, in 1895.
11. Surgical operations, in accordance with the orders of the Government
of India, are no longer classed as “ major ” and “minor,” but are returned
according to the list of operations contained in the Appendix to the Nomen-
clature of Diseases, the number of individuals operated on being specified, and
the operations being classified as “ principal ” and “ secondary.” In accordance
with this system, 24,067 operations are shown as having been performed during
the year. There were only five secondary operations; but, besides the number
of operations stated above, there were 6,340 reported as having been per-
formed, but not specified in the returns. The total number of deaths was
160, against 124 which resulted from major operations in 1895 ; the percentage
being
ains
.73 on the total number of individuals on whom operations of all kinds
were performed. The Mayo and Campbell Hospitals, where the figures were
3,158 and 2,145, respectively, show the largest number of operations.
12. In the Eden Hospital the number of women and children admitted as
indoor patients increased from 1,453 to 1,579. Of these, 281 were Europeans,
460 Eurasians, 725 Hindus and. Muhammadans, and 179 belonged to other
classes. The death-rate for Europeans and Eurasians is given as 6.47, and
that for all others as 10.50. The death-rate for native children fell from
34.71 to 25.36, although 13 children were admitted in a moribund condition.
The number of confinements rose from 546 to 640, of which 49 resulted in
death, as compared with 34 fatal cases in the previous year. There were
22 fatal cases of septicœmia, of which three originated within the hospital;
but no record of the total number of these cases was kept, so that no comparison
can be made with the figures for 1895. There were altogether 3,478 opera--
tions shown as performed within the hospitals, while in 1895 the number of
major operations was 357 and the number of minor 4,803. It is satisfactory
to note that in eight cases ovariotomy was performed without a death, against
six cases and one death in the preceding year. The number of outdoor
patients increased from 7,083 to 8,432. The suggestions for the improvement
of this hospital are still under the consideration of Government.
13. The Shama Churn Law Eye Hospital shows an increase of 25 in
the number of indoor, and a decrease of 519 in the number of outdoor patients
treated during the year, but the latter figure is probably incorrect, as it is
stated that the attendance on Sundays was not entered in the registers. The
daily average attendance rose from 148.57 to 161.34 and the number of
operations from 470 to 597. Of the latter, 347 were in cataract cases, and 80.40
per cent. were successful, against 76.82 per cent. in 1895.
14. At the Ezra Hospital indoor patients increased from 199 to 205, and
outdoor patients decreased from 1,624 to 1,611. Only 11 operations were per-
formed, against 108 in the previous year, the falling off being explained by a
large decrease in the number of minor operations. The cost of the hospital was
Rs. 6,646, of which Rs. 5,770 were contributed by Government.
15. The Lieutenant-Governor is pleased to receive a favourable report on
the nursing staff at the Campbell and Howrah Hospitals. The question of
the nurssing arrangements at the Presidency General and at the Eden Hospital is
under consideration, but at the former institution the work is said to be
improving. Thirteen pupil nurses and five dais passed their examinations
during the year from the Eden Hospital.
16. The invested capital of all the hospitals decreased from Rs. 5,99,400
to Rs. 5,96,100, only 2,500 being invested during the year by the Medical
College and the Howrah General Hospital, and the invested capital of the
Bhowanipur Dispensary, Rs. 5,800, being shown as withdrawn. The following