14

REPORT ON THE

the General Hospital has very strong claims to be constituted an exception to
this order, and I would accordingly support Dr. Ewart's request to be permit-
ted to spend his small library allowance of Rs. 25 a month as heretofore.

       28. The duties connected with this hospital have been ably and creditably
conducted during the year.

CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION.

Nurses' Institution.

       29. This important institution which supplies nurses to the Medical Col-
lege and General Hospitals, continues to pursue its course of usefulness. It has
been determined to increase the staff of nurses at the General Hospital. The
principal medical officers of both hospitals bear warm testimony to the
value of the services rendered by the nurses belonging to this institution. Its
funds are in a satisfactory condition. The report of the committee is ap-
pended.

MUNICIPAL PAUPER HOSPITAL.

Class of Cases ad-
  mitted.

STATEMENT NO. XIV.

       30. As Dr.Woodford remarks, this hospital is the receptacle for all the
sick and dying natives picked up by the police or rejected by other hospitals.
Its death-rate, as might be expected, continues terribly high, more than one-
fourth of those admitted dying. A special inquiry was made during the year
for the purpose of ascertain-
ing whether any cause of
the excessive mortality of
this hospital, not already
known, could be discovered,
or any measure suggested
which might reduce the
mortality. No cause could,
however, be suggested by
either the Deputy Inspector-
General of Hospitals, or
Superintendent, except the
severity of the diseases un-
der which the poor famished
wretches, who are brought to
the hospital, labour, and no
improvement recommended, except a slight addition to the staff of attendants,
which has since then been approved. The large number of patients dying
either on their way to hospital, or immediately or shortly after their arrival
there, shows that the death-rate cannot be otherwise than high. Statement No.
14 indicates the number of patients dying within various periods from admis-
sion in comparison with past years.

Milk

       31. The hospital, however, fulfils a most humane and useful purpose, and
to judge by the increased attendance of 1872, the shelter and relief that it gives
is appreciated. Dr. Woodford points out that the milk supplied by the con-
tractor is inferior. If the original contract specified milk of the best quality, the
Superintendent should insist on its being supplied, whatever the rate tendered
and accepted; if it did not specify the best quality of milk, it should have
done so. I have caused him to be written to to this effect.

Resident Apothe-
  cary.

       32. I do not support his recommendation, that the Resident Apothecary
should be styled House-Surgeon. The former designation is much more
appropriate in every way.