( 5 )
Hospital, and of the compounders and dressers at the Mayo Institutions, are
capable of being reduced, and that a disproportionate number of menial
servants are employed at the Sukea Street Dispensary. The establishment of
the General and Campbell Hospitals seems also to be unduly high as compared
with that of similar hospitals at Bombay, and the Lieutenant-Governor will be
glad to consider any definite proposals for reducing it which the Inspector
-General may submit. It is satisfactory to find that the high cost of medicines
at the General Hospital, commented on in last year’s Resolution, has been
reduced. At the Mayo Hospital, however, the expenditure under this head
came to Rs. 43-5-3 per patient, as compared with Rs. 36-5-8 at the General
Hospital and Rs. 34-12-2 at the Medical College. The Inspector-General states
that there is great room for economy at this hospital, and intimates a doubt
whether proper supervision is exercised over the issue of medicines. The
Lieutenant-Governor will await the report on the subject which Dr. Ross pro--
poses to submit.
18. Last year the Inspector-General recommended that medical officers
of the Presidency might be allowed to purchase their drugs and instruments
from England. It is now, however, reported that medicines are supplied by
the Government Medical Store Depôt cheaper than by private firms in England.
No change will, therefore, be made in the existing system.
19. The new hospital in Bhowanipur, which is intended to accommodate
native patients in the south of Calcutta, has been completed since the close of
the year at an approximate cost of Rs. 1,30,000, and will be open soon. It will
form a valuable addition to the medical institutions of the city, and will meet a
want which has been greatly felt. The Municipal Commissioners have contri-
buted a substantial proportion of the cost of construction, and also make a grant
towards its maintenance. It will be managed by a Board of six Governors, of
whom four will be appointed by Government and two by the Corporation.
20. Surgeon-Colonel R. Harvey was Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals
up to 23rd March 1895, when he was succeeded by Surgeon-Colonel G. C. Ross,
who remained in charge till the end of the year. The thanks of the Lieutenant-
Governor are due to Dr. Ross for his frequent and careful inspections of the
Calcutta Hospitals and his energetic endeavours to introduce reforms in their
structural and administrative arrangements. Sir Alexander Mackenzie recog-
nises that, owing to causes for the most part beyond the control of the medical
officers in charge, several of the Calcutta Hospitals fall conspicuously short of
the standard of comfort and efficiency which the advance of medical science
demands. Steps are now being taken to ascertain how the special needs of
each institution can best be met; and if the Provincial finances continue to
prosper, the Lieutenant-Governor hopes that it will be possible within a
reasonable period to remove many of the chief defects.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
H. H. RISLEY,
Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.
No. 3210Medl.
CoPY forwarded to the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal, for
information.
Nos. 3211-13Medl.
COPY of the Resolution and of the report forwarded to the
Chairman of the Corporation of Calcutta
commissioner of Police, Calcutta
,
Sanitary Commissioner, Bengal
for information.
No. 3214Medl.
CoPY of the Resolution and of the Report forwarded to the Bengal Branch
of the Lady Dufferin Fund, for information.