35
CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.
Improvements.— A piece of land at the north-east corner of the grounds
was handed over by the Corporation of Calcutta to the Governors of this
hospital for the purpose of building contagious wards and a separate outdoor
department, but nothing further has yet been done. Whitewashing was done
regularly every month since November last. A portion of the central hall
was screened off with a purdah, and provided with benches for females to wait
in.
91. D u f f e r i n V i c t o r i a H o s p i t a l . — M i s s
A . B a ü m l e r , M . D . , w a s i n c h a r g e o f t h e
hospital till the end of September last, Mrs. Martin Elicott, M.D., from 1st October
to 2nd December, and Miss L. Church, M.D., for the rest of the year.
92. Howrah General hospital.—Lieutenant-Colonel R. D. Murray, I.M.S.,
was in charge of the hospital from 1st January to 1st April ; Lieutenant-Colonel
E. Bovill, I.M.S., from 2nd April to 28th July, and again from 31st October to
the end of the year; Major C. R. M. Green, I.M.S., from 29th July to 6th
September, and Major E. H. Brown, I.M.S., from 7th September to 30th October
1898.
Improvements.— In the native department, various improvements in the
bedding and clothing of patients were made. A clock was provided ; brass plates
and enamelled iron glasses were substituted for tin plates and mugs. These
have removed one of the objections of respectable patients to attend the hospital.
A communication door was opened between the medical and surgical ward
verandahs. A room on the side of the out-patients’ department was set apart
for the female patients, who are attended to by a nurse in the morning. A
couch has been provided. Greater attention was paid to the comforts and
prejudices of the native patients.
During my inspection of the hospital, I pointed out, among other things,
the want of a proper operating room. The Superintendent reports that plans
and estimates have been prepared, and the work will be soon commenced.
Arrangements are being made to provide the hospital with a godown for
storing the clothing of in-patients.
93. I inspected all the hospitals of Calcutta. In my inspection notes I
pointed out to the Medical Officers in charge of them the improvements that I
thought were required, and I am glad to be able to state that most of my
suggestions have been carried out, and that steps are being taken to give effect
to the rest. Although there is great room for improvement I am quite con-
vinced that the institutions are most useful and afford a large amount of
medical relief, not only to the sick poor of the town and its suburbs, but to
persons who come for treatment from distant places. The Medical Officers in
nearly all cases have enormous charges which are almost beyond their powers.
The results that have been obtained are, therefore, the more worthy of
commendation. I regret very much to add that a most valued officer, Major
J . F. Eva ns , I . M. S. , Re s i de nt Phys i c i a n a nd Pa t hol ogi s t t o t he Me d i c a l
College, has recently succumbed to his arduous exertions at that institution in
which he was in charge of the plague cases. He died from that disease ; and,
although his death has occurred during the present year, I do not like to post-
-pone putting on record the universal feeling of sorrow at the loss of so estimable
and zealous an officer whom the Indian Medical Service could ill spare.
I have the honour to be,
SIR,
Your most obedient servant,
T. H. HENDLEY, CoL., I.M.S.,
Inspector- General of Civil Hospitals, Bengal.