CALCUTTA MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

39

      3. The following table shows the total attendance at the dispensary, both
in-door and out-door, during the year:—

Attendance.

NOTE.—All under 12 years of age to be counted as children.

      4. The total number of in-door patients was 113, as against 103 in 1876
and 119 in 1875, giving a daily average number of 3.54, as against 3.38 in
1876 and 3.33 in 1875. The dispensary has beds for eight patients altogether,
six male and two female, but its funds being low it is not possible to keep that
number.

In-door.

      5. The out-door patients who sought relief from the institution numbered
4,188 during the year, less by 307 than the attendance for the previous year,
when 4,495 were shown on the books. In 1875 the number stood even higher,
at 5,968, or at a daily average of 42.82. In 1876 the daily average was 32.92,
and 27.88 in the year under review. This falling off in the daily attendance
Dr. French attributes to the out-door department in the General Hospital, and
since this was closed on the 1st January of the present year the numbers are
going up again.

Out-door.

      6. The following table shows those diseases from which deaths occurred
among in-door patients:—

Mortality.

      The total number of deaths was 18, giving a ratio of 15.92 per cent. of
deaths to cases treated. The year preceding the death-rate was 13.63, and in
1875, 31.92 per cent. The large proportion of deaths from dysentery was
owing to the majority of them being moribunds sent in by the police.

      7. Eleven major operations were performed during the year, one termi-
nating fatally, viz. a case of trephining the skull for depressed fracture. The
other operations were, one of lithotomy, in which the calculus was of large size;
one of removal of fibrocystic tumour; one of amputation of the phalanges; and
seven reductions of dislocations. There were only four major operations in
1876.

Operations.

      Of minor operations there were 212, 51 less than the number in 1876,—263.

      8. The financial condition of the dispensary cannot be said to be flourish-
ing. "In former days," says Dr. French, "there were a good many residents
in Alipore, and subscriptions came in freely from them. Now there are very
few residents, and subscriptions from them cannot be obtained. Only one
gentleman (the Hon'ble Justice Birch) subscribed last year, and he has left
Alipore. The only measure we can now adopt is to ask the municipality for a
monthly grant." Regarding this last suggestion, Mr. Mangles, the Commis-
sioner, says he has requested the District Magistrate to submit the matter for
the consideration of the Municipal Commissioners.

Finances.

      The total income for the year was Rs. 3,650-13-5, including a balance of
Rs. 491-15, brought over from the previous year. Rs. 3,620-3-5 were received
from Government and Rs. 30 from European subscribers. The total expendi-
ture for the year was Rs. 3,235-4-9, leaving a balance in hand on 13st Decem-
ber of Rs. 415-8-8, so that the expenditure for 1877 exceeded the actual income
by Rs. 76-6-4, and the capital had to be drawn upon for this amount.