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Table G shows, so far as statistics have been obtainable, the
mortality of Natives (1) in Public Hospitals (2) in Private Hospitals.
It is to be noted with regret that comparatively few of the Private
Hospitals have kept any trustworthy record of the cases treated in them.
The native assistants, in many cases, had no previous experience
in keeping registers, and an examination of their books shows
how totally worthless the statistics published must necessarily be. A
certain number of cases were of necessity sent to hospitals for obser-
vation when found suffering from fever and, indeed, a fairly large
number of persons applied voluntarily for admission under the impres-
sion that they were suffering from Plague, who subsequently proved to
be suffering from diseases other than Plague. Of these cases the
registers show no record: all alike are entered as cases of "Plague,"
yet the fact that many cases were detained in hospitals, before being
discharged cured, for periods varying from 1 to 7 days only, conclu-
sively proves that they were not suffering from Plague.
Every endeavour has been made to ascertain the actual Plague
mortality: where this has not been possible, the mortality, including
all cases admitted, has been stated under the heading "General
Mortality."
An attempt to compare the results of these two classes of hospitals
has led to considerable doubt in certain quarters as to whether a well
regulated hospital, with its staff of trained nurses and various other
appointments, was of any special advantage. Such a comparison is,
however, worthless and must necessarily be misleading till a more
satisfactory system of supervision can be exercised in regard to the
Private Hospitals.
The comparatively low rate of mortality amongst Europeans is
undoubtedly largely due to the early stage of the disease at which they
placed themselves under suitable conditions and treatment. The high
rate of mortality at all the hospitals has almost invariably been attributed
by the Medical Officers to the late stage at which the patients were
sent in.