14
REPORT ON THE
23. Particular diseases—Small-pox.— This disease was more prevalent in
the town of Calcutta towards the latter part of the year. The admissions to
hospitals also rose from 42 in 1899 to 240 in 1900. Of the latter, 239 were
treated in the special wards of the Campbell Hospital, and 1 in the Presidency
General Hospital. The patient was dying fast and could not be transferred
to the Campbell Hospital. Of the number treated at the latter, 44 were
Europeans and Eurasians, and 195 "all others," against 14 and 26, respec--
tively, in 1899. The total death-rate was 42.91 against 47.61 per cent. in the
previous year.
The different types of the disease from which the 239 patients suffered
Cases. Deaths. Ratio
per cent.
Confluent
92
66
71.73
Semi-confluent
79
20
25.31
Discrete
36
1
2.77
Modified
16
1
6.25
Hæmorrhagic
14
1 4
100
Corymbose
2
. . .
Total for 1900
239
102
42.67
Total for 1899
40
18
45
and the deaths among them are noted
in the margin. Of the 239 cases, 177
or 74.05 per cent. were unprotected
against 21 and 52.5 per cent., respec
-tively, in the previous year. Among
the unprotected cases there were 95
deaths or 53.67 per cent. Sixty-one
are said to have been vaccinated, of
whom 7 succumbed, the death-rate
being 11.47 per cent. In only one
of the fatal cases, the vaccinal scars
were distinct. Special reference has
been made to Government on the inefficient state of vaccination which these
and other data reveal.
24. Cholera—Was more prevalent and fatal in Calcutta and Howrah during
the year under report than in the previous year. In fact, the disease pre
-vailed in an epidemic form after the floods in September. The hospital
statistics also show a corresponding increase, the admissions having risen from
355 in 1899 to 728 in 1900. Of the 728 cases, 41 were Europeans and Eurasians,
against 20 in the previous year. The number of "all others" was 687 against
335 in 1899. The total death-rate was, however, less, viz., 61.12 against 63.94
per cent. in the previous year.
The death-rate among Europeans and Eurasians was less, it having been
60.97 per cent. against 70 in 1899. The percentage of deaths among all others
also shows a decrease, viz., 61.13 against 63.58 in the previous year. Of the
41 Europeans, 19 were treated in the Medical College Hospital, 21 in the
Presidency General Hospital, and one in the Howrah General Hospital, the
rate of mortality being 47.36, 71.42, and 100 per cent., respectively.
Of the 687 all others, 271 were treated in the Campbell Hospital with 184
deaths, or 67.89 per cent. ; 142 in the Mayo Native Hospital with 73 deaths, or
51.40 per cent.; 170 in the Medical College Hospital with 94 deaths, or 55.20
per cent. ; 69 in the Howrah General Hospital, of whom 52 died, or 75.36 per
cent.; 14 in the Sambhu Nath Pandit Hospital with 8 deaths, or 57.14 per
cent., and 8 in the Presidency General Hospital with 1 death, or 12.5 per cent.
Two cases were treated in the Chandney Hospital without a death. The Police
Hospital had no case in 1899, but in the year under report there were 11 cases,
of whom 8 were fatal, or 72.72 per cent.
25. Fifteen patients were attacked with cholera while under treatment for
other diseases in the Campbell Hospital. Of these 10 died. The Superintendent
cannot assign any reason for this outbreak. The appearance of cholera in this
hospital successively for two years suggests that there must be some local
cause for it, and I reproduce here the remarks I made during my inspection
of the hospital in 1900 :—
" Out-patient rooms.—This is a well-arranged series of rooms in a block which faces the
Lower Circular Road. Unfortunately the municipal sanitary railway runs immediately in
front of it, and there is a depôt close by at which carts are being constantly filled up or stand
until a train-load is formed. This is a very great nuisance, not only on account of the offen
-ssive smells which are very frequently wafted into the rooms, especially on the female side, but
on account of the filth which is dropped about the place by birds which frequent the carts.
In addition to this, the Municipality has begun to build a new siding or to extend the plat
-form towards the hospital, which will increase the difficulty. I trust the Corporation will see
its way to remedy this great evil, which is particularly conspicuous and harmful in the
neighbourhood of a public hospital, which also suffers by the fact that the railway runs round
one side of the whole compound, and the contents of the trucks tend to the presence of flies in
enormous numbers, that may be the means of spreading disease, and, certainly, are most
trying to the patients in the wards."