CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
27
53. It will be seen from the foregoing table that the cost per head in the
Medical College and Presidency General Hospitals varied within a few rupees.
Comparing, again, the cost in these institutions with that of the previous year,
the variations will appear to be slight. In respect of the increase in the Presi-
dency General Hospital in 1895 it should be stated that a larger amount was paid
for compensation allowance owing to low exchange, and that a full complement
of Military Assistant Surgeons was employed, which was not the case in 1894.
At the Campbell Hospital the cost did not vary much as compared with that of the
previous year. The cost per head at the Mayo Institutions shows the same thing.
Taking the Mayo Hospital alone, the cost was Rs. 146-8 per head, which is, as
pointed out last year, next to that of the Medical College Hospital. It may be
observed that the total cost at the former was Rs. 50 less than in 1894, but the
average cost rose by nearly Rs. 4. This was due to the smaller average number of
patients among whom the cost was divided. The total cost was Rs. 14,650,
which is composed of as follows:—allowance to the Superintendents Rs. 6,300,
p a y o f t h e Re s i d e n t S u r g e o n Rs . 4 , 8 0 0 a n d o f t wo h o u s e S u r g e o n s , Rs . 3 , 5 5 0 .
The total cost in the Howrah Hospital shows an increase of Rs. 250, but the cost
per patient fell from Rs. 86-11-5 to Rs. 78-11-2, because it had a larger divisor
in 1895. The increase of Rs. 250 will be explained hereafter. The Dufferin
Victoria Hospital is a special institution, and its finance is controlled by a
Committee. There the cost per head was Rs. 161-13-5 in 1895, against
Rs. 183-14 8 in 1894. The cost is apparently high, but the reason is found in
the small daily average number (38) among whom the Rs. 6,150 has been
apportioned. The rise in the daily average has, however, reduced the inci-
dence of cost per head, as will be seen from the figures given above. These com-
parisons are no doubt useful to some extent. In any hospital where abnormal
variations persistently occur, and the reasons are not sufficiently explained, they
undoubtedly show room for economy. It is the duty of every medical officer
to keep the expenditure of his hospital within reasonable bounds, and to enforce
economy without sacrificing efficiency.
54. Compounders and Dressers.—The figures in the margin show the cost
Total cost, Rate per
capita.
Rs. Rs. A. P.
Medical College Hospital
2,062 5 0 3
Presidency General Hospital
492 2 7 4
Campbell Hospital
1,130 2 6 6
Police Hospital
360 3 10 2
Mayo Institutions
2,844 14 1 9
Dufferin Victoria Hospital 420 11 0 1 0
Howrah General Hospital 888 11 8 6
in each institution exclusively for
compounders and dressers. At the
Campbell Hospital the cost per head
rose from Re. 1-15 to Rs. 2-6-6 in the
year under report. The increase was
due to the entertainment of an extra
establishment for the small-pox pa-
tients. With reference to the larger
rates at the Howrah Hospital and Mayo Institutions, I remarked in my last
year's report that there was perhaps room for economy in these institutions. The
Superintendent of the Howrah Hospital submitted a report on the subject during
the year under review, which showed that the pay of extra nurses was included
in the cost for compounders. This has not been done in the year under review,
and the total cost has for this reason fallen from Rs. 1,128 to Rs. 888. There
are 5 compounders and 3 dressers attached to this hospital. The daily average
sick was 68.69 in and 87.36 outdoor, or a total of 156.05. For this work 8
persons seem to be unnecessary. It gives an average of 19 patients to each.
Considering that many accident cases are received in the hospital from the neigh-
bouring mills, the number of dressers might remain, but the number of com-
pounders is susceptible of reduction. The Superintendent will be again asked
to give this matter his consideration. The Superintendent of the Mayo Insti-
tutions states that economy is not possible, and that in other hospitals the
students and the nurses help the compounders in their work. There is perhaps
some force in this statement, but it does not seem to be very convincing. At the
Mayo Hospital the daily average of in-patients was 80.67 and of out-patients
197.89. It has 6 compounders and 4 dressers, and the total cost was Rs. 1,224
in 1895. That the cost is disproportionately high will appear from the following
fact. At the Gaya Pilgrim Hospital the daily average number of in-patients
was 61.18, and the outdoor attendance was 224.04 in 1895, and there are only
two compounders and two dressers at a total cost of Rs. 43 per mensem, or
Rs. 516 per annum. The number of major operations is much larger than
in the Mayo Hospital—687 in the former and 608 in the latter. And the 608
operations include 356 cases of tapping of hydrocele, while the 687 performed a