2
REPORT ON THE
there was an epidemic in the early part of the year which spread to Calcutta.
This accounts for the high small-pox mortality in Calcutta. The decrease in
Howrah of the mortality from cholera is attributed by the Civil Surgeon to
the filtered water-supply.
3. Numbers treated—outdoor patients. —The total number of patients who
sought outdoor relief at all the institutions was 260,806, or an increase of 2,012 as
compared with 1896. The South Suburban Hospital at Bhawanipur, now
styled the Shambhunath Pandit Hospital, shows the largest increase, viz.,
11,556, due, as the Superintendent says, to the growing popularity of that ins-
titution. The very successful working of this institution is attributed by the
late President of the Board of Governors of the hospital to the incessant personal
supervision of Surgeon-Major A. Leahy. This result, however, is obtained
somewhat at the expense of the 19 district dispensaries which were not visited
as frequently as required by the regulations. There was an increase of 2,735
patients in the Eye Hospital, which is also ascribed to its growing popularity.
The numbers of outdoor patients at the Medical College Hospital proper
increased by 967, due, the Principal explains, to greater sickness among the
poorer people, who suffered much from the scarcity which prevailed during
the year. At the Howrah Hospital the number of patients was more by 911.
The Superintendent can offer no explanation of the increase. The Presidency
General and the Mayo Native Hospitals also show a slight increase. On the
other hand, the returns show a decrease of 4,621 patients in the Eden Hospital.
The Principal of the Medical College says that this is due to errors in calculating
the returns of two previous years, where old cases were included among the new
patients. It is to be hoped that steps will be taken to prevent the recurrence
of such mistakes in future. At the Ezra Hospital there was a fall of 548. The
Principal says this was due to the closure of the outdoor department in
September; all cases having, it appears, been transferred from that month to
Chuni Lal Seal's Dispensary. This change was inaugurated without the
knowledge of this office, which was irregular. There was a reduction of 416
in the Chandney Hospital, 220 in the Park Street, 12 in the Chitpur, and 730,
Sukea's Street dispensaries. In the first-named institution, which was much
damaged by the earthquake of the 12th June, the decrease was chiefly due,
it is said, to the closure of the outdoor department during the time it was under
repairs. No reason has been assigned for the falling off in the attendance in
the other institutions. The Campbell Hospital shows a decrease of 458, which
the Superintendent attributes to the transfer of the Apothecary (Mr. Brittain)
to the Eden Hospital, where he was sent to do the work of the outdoor dis-
pensary during the absence of Surgeon-Captain Stevens, deputed to military
duty. At the Dufferin Victoria Hospital there was a falling off of 2,069, which
is attributed by the Lady Superintendent to the unsuitability of the locality in
which the hospital is situated, to the limited accommodation provided in the
present temporary building, and to the closure of the institution for a month
while it was under repairs. There was also a reduction in 1896 of 941 patients.
It is to be hoped that when the permanent buildings are completed, a change
for the better will be recorded.
4. Indoor patients. —The total number of house-patients was 28,955
against 25,647—an increase of 3,308.
The daily average number of indoor
patients also increased from 1,238.51 in
1896 to 1,408.16 in 1897. The increases
and decreases in the various hospitals
are shown in the margin. The largest
increase, it will be seen, was in the
Campbell Hospital, where a large num-
ber of emaciated and sick paupers
were admitted during the famine, which
deteriorated the health of the poorer
classes, who thus succumbed the more
readily to disease. The greatest number of admissions in the Campbell
Hospital took place in the later months of the year when the wards of the
hospital were overcrowded, notwithstanding the accommodation in the extra
Medical College Hospital proper ...
+187
Eden Hospital
...
. . .
—50
Ezra „
...
...
—27
Eye „
. . .
...
+37
Presidency General Hospital
...
—445
Campbell Hospital
...
... +2,833
Police ,,
. . .
...
+375
Mayo ,,
...
...
+113
Chandney Hospital
...
...
—146
South Suburban Hospital, Bhawanipur
+547
Dufferin Victoria Hospital
. . .
—111
Howrah General „
...
—5
Total
... +3,308