CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

41

     8. The Deputy Surgeon of the Presidency Circle inspected the dispensary in company
with Dr. French on the 27th of December, at the working hour, and he reports that he found
the duties being satisfactorily carried on by the Native doctor. Medicines were sufficient in
quantity and properly kept. Books were carefully written and up to date. "A. verandah,"
Mr. Cockburn writes, "for the use of the patients waiting to be attended to is very much
required, especially during the rainy season. This was suggested at last year's inspection,
but nothing has been done."

Remarks by the
Deputy Surgeon-
General.

CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION.

     THE Honorary Secretary has been good enough to send me a copy of the report on the
working of this institution during the past year, and I am sure the opinion of Drs. Smith
and Elliot recorded in it will be accepted as satisfactory evidence of the good work which has
been accomplished through its agency in the wards of the Presidency General and Medical
College Hospitals. As the report is a short one, and the subject of hospital nursing is one
of special interest to many, I reproduce it in extenso.

     "In publishing the report of the 17th year of this institution, the Committee have much
pleasure in being able to state that the nurses employed by them to work in both the Medical
College Hospital and the General Hospital have given satisfaction to the medical officers,
and that the matrons of both hospitals have done their work with their usual zeal and efficiency.

     "In his letter to the Honorary Secretary, Dr. Smith, Principal of the Medical College
and First Physician to the Medical College Hospital, writes:—"The matron and nurses of the
Medical College Hospital continue to do useful and faithful service. Considering the diffi-
culties and discomforts they have had to contend with, I think it may fairly be said that,
during the past year, we have had no reason to complain. Mrs. Bowler, the matron, deserves
special praise for the assiduity and conscientious care with which she has at all times
performed her important duties. I have had every reason to be satisfied with her. The nurses
generally are willing, attentive, and respectable.' From Dr. Elliot, Surgeon Superin-
tendent, Calcutta General Hospital, we have the following testimony:—'I have much
pleasure in testifying to the continued improvement which has been made during the past
year in the conduct, attention, and knowledge gained by the nurses under the steady
and systematic training to which they have been subjected. The nurses, with one or two
exceptions, after a short period of training have shown a considerable amount of intelli-
gence and tact. Those who have been long attached to the institution appear to take a real
interest in their work, and have acquitted themselves of the responsible, and sometimes
heavy, duties devolving upon them to the satisfaction of myself and the other medical
officers attached to the hospital. The additional nurses sanctioned by Sir Richard Temple
for duty in the cholera ward for a limited period deserve special notice for the zeal and
devotion they have displayed under particularly harassing and trying circumstances. (These
nurses are now entertained by the Committee.) I am glad to be able to report favourably of
the matron, Mrs. Hickey, who continues to officiate as superintendent of nurses in the female
ward, and acts as midwife in the lying-in room, in which capacity she is thoroughly efficient.
I consider she fully deserves the increase of pay for which she was last year recommended
by my predecessor, Dr. Ewart.'

     "The funds of the institution may be considered as fairly satisfactory, but this is a
good deal owing to additional help from Government. During the hot-weather months
Sir Richard Temple made a special grant for cholera nurses, and he also made a donation to
the funds on the part of Government in addition to the ordinary monthly grant-in-aid of
Rs. 700. By this assistance the Committee have been enabled to entertain two additional
nurses for each hospital—an improvement urgently needed, but which can only become
permanent if the state of the funds permit it. The Committee therefore most earnestly
hope that the public will continue their liberal support to the institution."

Treasurer's Statement of Accounts for the year 1876.

F