38

REPORT ON THE

a mistake to separate the in-door from the out-door department belonging to the
same hospital; and says he would be glad to see them together again, as the
separation both lessened the popularity of the Bhowanipore Dispensary and
greatly added to the cost of the General Hospital.

      The total number of patients who sought aid from this dispensary during
the year was 7,465, against 6,240 in 1876 and 9,527 in 1875. The daily
average attendance during 1877 was 67.4, 52.8 during 1876 and 93.02 during
1875. Considering the superior attractions of the out-door department at the
General Hospital close by, the Superintendent thinks the result for 1877 very
satisfactory, and further expects the daily attendance to increase considerably
during the current year. There is now no out-door department at the General
Hospital.

      4. The following seem to have been the most prevalent diseases which
were treated at the dispensary: Fevers, 2,449; rheumatic affections, 315;
respiratory affections, 345; diarrhœa, 349; spleen, 247; abscess, &c., 305; skin
diseases, 557.

Operations.

      5. There were only six major operations performed during the year by
the Assistant Surgeon, 5 for dislocations and 1 for cicatrices after burn: of
minor operations there were 356.

Finances.

      6. The dispensary is allowed by Government Rs. 150 per mensem as salary
of the Assistant Surgeon. The Municipality contributed Rs. 1,225-13
during the year, and subscriptions from natives amounted to Rs. 63-8. These
sums, together with Rs. 1,694-5-11½, the balance of the previous year, make up
the total income of the dispensary to Rs. 4,627-5-11½. The expenditure for
the whole year amounted to Rs. 4,521-3-3, but of this Rs. 1,619-9-6 went
towards the new building. The balance in hand on 31st December was
Rs. 106-2-8½.

Remarks.

      7. Regarding some remarks at the end of the Assistant Surgeon's report,
Dr. French says as follows:— "Assistant Surgeon Ram Chunder Sen" (who
submits the report, having rejoined the dispensary at the beginning of the
present year, taking over charge from Assistant Surgeon Baney Madhub
Tagore) "in his report makes certain remarks which I must notice. He
regrets that the hospital has been deprived of all its former surgical instru-
ments. As there was no in-door department, I returned all the old instruments
into Government store, and obtained new and serviceable ones for the use of
the suburbs. These are kept at the Alipore Dispensary, and the Assistant Sur-
geons of Bhowanipore, Russapughla, and Garden Reach can have the loan of
any instruments they may require for a case. Formerly the Bhowanipore
Dispensary was loaded with old and unserviceable instruments.

      "2ndly.—He alludes in disparaging terms to the value and use of the
Cinchona Febrifuge, and urges that more Quinine ought to be supplied. I
need not say much on this question, as the majority of Indian Medical
Officers are against him, and Quinine has been partially withdrawn from out-
door dispensary practice. I may add that in the Police Hospital, I very
seldom prescribe Quinine, and treat all my cases effectually with Darjeeling
Cinchona Febrifuge."

ALIPORE DISPENSARY.

Medical charge.

      THIS dispensary was under the medical charge of First Grade Assistant
Surgeon Chunder Seekur Haldar throughout the year 1877. He has filled this
post for the last 20 years, "and," says Dr. French, the Superintendent, "each
year he has been reported on in terms of praise. The only thing I can say this
year is that when he retires on his well earned pension, his loss will be felt
by all classes of the community in this part of the suburbs." The dispensary
was visited daily by Dr. French and once during the year by the Deputy
Surgeon-General.

Building.

      2. The dispensary building has but one flat divided into four rooms.
One for the accommodation of male in-door patients, one smaller for female
patients, a dispensing room and a lumber-room. It is in tolerably good condi-
tion; but repairs are now due, it being three years since they were last carried
out.