18

REPORT ON THE

THE ARATOON APCAR (GARDEN REACH) DISPENSARY.

Attendance.

       55. This is a dispensary for out-patients only, established and mainly supported by
Mr. Thomas Apcar, who has made some useful improvements and additions to it in the
course of the year. It is under the charge of Native Doctor Prankristo Mookerjee, who appears
to be popular and attentive to his duties. 9,384 cases were treated, with an average daily
attendance of 105.69, as against 8,402 in 1872; these numbers show satisfactory progress.

       This dispensary was inspected by the deputy surgeon-general of the Presidency Circle
on the 27th June. He reports that the institution is evidently appreciated by the poor around.
It provides medical advice and medicines for a large number of cases, not of severe illness, but
which would, if neglected, become worse and cause much misery and distress.

HOWRAH GENERAL HOSPITAL.

Its early difficulties.

Present satisfactory
position.

       56. A most interesting and comprehensive report of this hospital is furnished by
Dr. Bird, the Civil Surgeon of Howrah. He relates the early history of the institution and
the difficulties which it has had to encounter, and which he shows to have been overcome only
by appeals to the philanthropic spirit of the community of Calcutta, and which have been most
liberally responded to. He dwells with much satisfaction upon its present comparatively
secure financial position and its vastly increased efficiency.

Patients may
contribute towards
their own support.

       This hospital is a very important institution, affording relief to both European and
Native sick of a very large and populous suburb. The Europeans, when in a position to
contribute towards the expense of their treatment—railway employés and others—are charged
two rupees or one rupee per diem, as the case may be, which amount is usually paid by the
railway company or shipping agents. Dr. Bird. points out that the hospital is therefore in
this respect a sort of hotel, and that much time is occupied and much labour devolves upon
him in making out and collecting the amount of bills.

Statistics

In-patients.

Out-patients.

       57. In the subjoined statement the number of in-door and out-door treated last year,
as compared. with 1872, is shown
to be larger, both as regards Euro-
peans andNatives. Among Native
in-door patients the increase is
very considerable, and is attributed
to a ward in the jail having
been used as a moribund ward,
thus increasing the number of
beds from 25 to 37. The attend-
ance of out-patients in both
classes has also been larger than
in the preceding year, more espe-
cially among Natives. This has
been due partly, Dr. Bird. thinks,
to a free use of Europe medicines, and partly to the fact of the assistant-surgeon having been
able latterly to devote his whole time to the Native department. The results are satisfactory,
and indicate progress and increasing appreciation among all classes.

Probable future
decrease of
European patients.

       58. Dr. Bird believes that the numbers of European in-patients for some years to come
are not likely to increase, owing to the removal of so many of the railway staff to Assensole,
and other causes, diminishing the European population of Howrah, and the decrease in numbers
of seamen frequenting the port.

Mortality among
Europeans.

Comparison with
General Hospital.

       59. Of 665 Europeans treated, 27 died, or at the rate of 40.06 per thousand. This is
an unusually low death-rate for this hospital, and is, in fact, lower than has been shown in any
other year of the decade. It is very little higher than that of the Presidency General
Hospital, which has been seen to be 38.9 for the past year. Of the 27 deaths, 6 were from
cholera. If these be excluded, the mortality from all other diseases will be 31.5, which is
even slightly less than the General Hospital. where it was 32.3.

Among Natives.

       On the other hand the mortality among Native cases treated has been 277.7 per thousand.
The returns, however, this year include all moribunds, which in previous years were excluded;
so that the increase is more apparent than real. Excluding these, the death-rate will be
195.65, or very nearly the same as that of 1872. In October last, in compliance with
the resolution of Bengal Government of 21st August, Dr. Bird was requested to furnish
explanation of the high rate of mortality among Native patients in this hospital.
Dr. Bird, in his reply, an extract from which he gives in this report, shows why the death-rate