( 6 )
to Government shows an increase of Rs. 71,881, due to larger expenditure on
buildings and repairs, on diet, and on European medicines. Receipts from
paying patients show an increase of Rs. 2,274, mainly due to the fact of the
Campbell Hospital having received a sum of Rs. 4,575 from the Bengal Branch
of the Indian Famine Fund for dieting of patients. Rupees 7,943 were also
received from the same fund by the Campbell Hospital for the pauper patients
treated in the sheds built by the Calcutta Municipality. There is a reduction
of Rs. 13,439 in the receipts from local funds, which is attributed chiefly to
smaller receipts from the Hospital Port Dues fund, owing to smaller admissions
of seamen in the Medical College, Presidency General and Howrah General
Hospitals. There was a slight increase in the receipts from municipal funds
and in subscriptions from Europeans, while subscriptions from natives decreased
by more than half. The total expenditure rose from Rs. 6,54,444 to Rs. 7,33,041.
The amount spent on buildings and repairs increased by Rs. 34,987 owing to
quadrennial repaìrs at the Medical College, and the construction of the out- door
department and sheds for the accommodation of extra patients at the Campbell
Hospital. There was also an increase both under Diet and Miscellaneous
charges. The large increase from Rs, 6,706 to Rs. 11,349 in the expenditure
on European medicines in the General Hospital was plainly due to imperfect
re
supervision, there having been eleven. Assistant Surgeons in charge of the dis-
pensary during the year. The whole management of this hospital has lately
been investigated by a Committee whose report is now under consideration.
17. The Inspector-General has expressed doubts as to the propriety of
continuing the appointment of a lady doctor for the Chandney Hospital. The
small attendance of female patients does not seem to warrant the retention of a
lady doctor, and if the Inspector-General will submit proposals for utilising to
better advantage the money that is now spent in this way, they will receive the
Lieutenant-Governor's consideration.
18. The construction of a new building for the Presidency General Hospital
at an estimated cost of Rs. 22,00,000 has at last been sanctioned. It is
impossible to provide so large a sum at once; and arrangements have been made
to construct the new buildings gradually, the subsidiary buildings which will
be of immediate advantage to the existing hospital being taken up first. In
the current year’s budget 3 lakhs have been provided, and it has been decided
in addition to such construction of the male block as the funds permit, to take
up the following works in the first instance and in the following order, viz :—-
(l.) the contagious diseases ward, (2) the main kitchen, including a milk store
and dairy, and (3) the steam Laundry and thus provide at once these most
necessary appendages to the existing hospital.
The entire work will take some years to carry out, but when complete it
will supply one of the most pressing wants of the town. The Committee
appointed to state how the existing defects of the hospital can best be remedied,
to examine the nursing arrangements, the supply of bedding, &c., and to report
on the general system of supervision, and the adequacy of the staff of servants
and to suggest rules for management, have only recently submitted their report,
which is now under the consideration of Government.
19. Surgeon-Colonel J. H. Newman was Inspector-General of Civil
Hospitals throughout the year, and the Lieutenant-Governor takes this oppor-
tunity of acknowledging his efficient supervision of the hospitals under his
control. Sir John Woodburn’s thanks are due to Surgeon-Colonel T. H.
Hendley, C.I.E., who took charge on the 9th April, for his clear and concise
report.
By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal,
E. N. BAKER,
Offg. Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal.
No. 5 678Medl.
COPY forwarded to the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal, for
information.