24
REPORT ON THE
arrangement is objected to by the foundress, and is not a good one. I am
trying to rectify it in accordance with her wishes.
47. Nursing.—Very great improvements have been made in this most
important department of recent years, under the direction of the Clewer
sisters, but still further improvement is possible if the money were forth-
coming.
48. The Medical College Hospital—has a staff consisting of a sister superin-
tendent, a matron and 31 nurses, including probationers. The Presidency
General Hospital, under the immediate superintendence of the Clewer sisters,
had an average of 26 nurses. The Eden Hospital has a sister superintendent
and five nurses, including the matron and a surgical nurse, and four permanent
dhais. The bulk of the work is, however, done by pupil nurses and dhais.
Fourteen of the former are wives or widows of European soldiers or Govern-
ment servants, and receive stipends from Government. Four more are private
nurses who receive instruction free, but pay for their board. Two are sent by
missionary societies. Eight of the pupil dhais receive Government scholarships
of Rs. 6 a month, eight more are provided for from various private sources, and
three are sent by District Boards. Two of the permanent dhais are utilized to
attend cases in their own homes, attending at the hospital when not thus
engaged. The Mayo Hospital has no nurses; the work is done by ward coolies.
The Campbell Hospital has now four more or less trained nurses not under the
Calcutta Hospital Nurses' Institution. The Howrah General Hospital also
employs two private nurses.
49. All the reports speak well of the nursing arrangements, but it is
clear that when, as in the Presidency General, Medical College and Eden
Hospitals, a great part of the work is done by probationers, it cannot be so per-
fect as if the whole staff were trained nurses. There must be probationers, but
if funds permitted it would be well if the proportion of qualified nurses were
increased. Fourteen midwife nurses passed out of the Eden Hospital during
the year, one with great credit, 10 with credit. Nine dhais also passed, four
of them with credit.
50. Finance. —The total income of all the institutions was Rs. 5,10,450-7-9
as under:—
Rs. A. P.
(a) Balance on 1st January
...
. . .
... 19,085 11 10*
(b) Contributions from Government
. . .
... 2,96,477 11 1
(c) From local and municipal funds, interest on invest-
ments, subscriptions, &c. ...
. . .
... 1,94,887 0 10
Total
... 5,10,450 7 9
The total expenditure was—
(a) Cost of establishment, medicines, diet, repairs and
maintenance
..
.
...
...
4,76,901 14 1
(b) Invested during the year ...
. . .
...
4,029 7 1
4,80,931 5 2
Balance on 31st December
...
29,519 2 7
Total
... 5,10,450 7 9
* Includes Rs. 2,276-1-9, balance of the Dufferin Victoria Hospital not included in the last report.
51. The following is the usual comparison with the preceding year:—
1892.
1893.
Rs.
A. P.
Rs.
A. P.
1.
Net cost of all the hospitals to Government 3,15,296 8 0
2,96,477 11 1
2. Receipts from local and municipal funds,
interest, subscriptions, &c.
... 1,68,264 2 9
1,94,887 0 10
3. Cost of establishment, maintenance, &c.
4,73,055 4 5
4,76,901 14 1
4. Invested during the year ...
...
10,714 6 9
4,029 7 1
52. The total cost to Government was Rs. 18,818-12-11, less than in 1892.
Buildings and repairs cost less by Rs. 7,902-3-7. Receipts from paying patients