glad
we are
to learn that the Government has
appointed
a
valid, and to make suggestions, either for the utilization of the present buildCommittee to consider how far the
ing in some other capacity, be
capable
for such
are
improvements
as
it may
of.
We congratulate the authorities
or
objections
on
public,
this move in the
the
patients, and the Hospital right direction, atul, if we are not
mistaken, it is exactly what the latter desire. The Committee is well selected, and comprises all the elements required to ensure for this important subject due consideration, consisting of Medical, Engineer, and Civil Officers. With influential representatives from the mercantile and native communities, it should he able to grasp at all points, and to develope such information
Government may need. In the event of the Committee
as
recommending that the Hospital, there can be no doubt that such recommendation must be endorsed by others, for many changes and improvements of which it is susceptible, and by which its utility and efficiency may be greatly enlarged. The radical defects of construction are, of course, irremediable, but there are so many mirier points where improvement may be
building
should be retained
made, that
we
as a
look forward with much satisfaction to the result
of this Committee's deliberations.
There
can
be
no
doubt that,
however excellent the
building may be as a work of architecture, it is not well adapted for a Hospital. For a College or University with library, reading, lecture, examination, and senate rooms, it would have been well suited, and it is a pity that the suggestion that it should be so made use of, was not adopted, and the money sanctioned for the said University assigned for the purpose of building a new Hospital. But as that, apparently, is not to be, we hope that all that can now be done to render the a
Hospital
building
more
fit than at present for
will be carried into effect.
The Committee will to the records, and
by
probably
obtain information
by
reference
examination of the Medical Officei'3 of the
Hospital. But we may briefly indicate some of the defects which require consideration. The first and greatest defect of all?the massing together, under one roof and in one common atmosphere, (for such is necessarily the case where all the wards communicate) of 300 sick people without means of separation, segregation, or proper ventilation?cannot now be obviated, but still its ill effects may be diminished by removing the surgical patients to one side, and keeping the medical patients on the other. This would necessitate the removal of the Midwifery Department to another suitable building, a step which should bo taken without delay. The addition of new verandahs, of
rooms
for out-patients and
for admission, of quarters for resident officers, clinical clerks,dressers, nurses, and Hospital attendants; of retiring
those
waiting
rooms
for the Medical Officers for the purposes of convenience or
consultation ; the construction of a new operating theatre in a more secluded part of the building, and the removal of the present
conspicuous position, thus making room for other appropriate purposes ; the removal of the water-closets from within the body of the building; the construction of fitting bathrooms, the introduction of a proper water-supply, and of lighting by gas ; the enlargement and better drainage of the Hospital compound and its vicinity, so as to provide airing
one
from its
more
THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE WiTn reference to the
representations
that
HOSPITAL.
have,
from time to
time, been made of tlic defective state of the Medical College Hospital, and of its unfitness (according to the most recent views ori these subjects) for the purposes for which it was intended,
grounds for phere
the convalescents, and
for the sick
>
aa
a
more
wholesome atmos-
iucrease of the resideut staff,
as
already
TIIE WORK OF DEPUTY INSPECTORS-GENERAL.
Jaxtaby 1, 1867.] recommended
bj
the Commission that sat on the Civil Medical
months ago ; increase of the subordinate and Appointments departments; augmentation of the allowance for diet and wine,?all these are subjects prominently requiring the attention of the Committee, and can easily be carried out. Last year, at the urgent instance of the Surgeons of the institution, the Hospital was emptied, the sick being placed in tents, and the building thoroughly cleansed, fumigated, and whitewashed ; on returning to the Hospital the number of beds some
menial
in each ward
clearly
was
reduced from
been favorable.
24
to 16, and the result has
Ochletic disease has been less
prevalent
The deaths from pycemia have been less frequent, and
the
surgical operation performed after the re-occupation of the Hospital?an amputation of the thigh?recovered, an event which is somewhat unusual in this or other Calcutta Hospitals. Since then a second case of amputation of the thigh has also done well, and there has been less tendency in the cases generally than previously to the development of that toxtemic condition, which proves so destructive. But this advantage has been obtained by the sacrifice of much accommodation; and each patient has now an amount of cubic space beyond the requirements of modern sanitary science; and he needs it to place him under the most favorable condition for recovery that the Hospital can offer. This, we fear, is irremediable, for to increase the number of beds again in each ward, would, after past experience, be unjustifiable. It is melancholy to think that the metropolis of India is, in respect of Hospitals, behind the smallest Military or Civil Station ; for there, although the Hospital be small, it is at all events somewhat commensurate with the requirements of the place, and built on the most recent and approved principles of Hospital construction, a science which, rapidly developed of late years, was in its infancy when the Calcutta Hospitals were built. The requirements of this great city are daily increasing, and are not to be met by mere temporary expedients and adaptation of other buildings to purposes for which they were not constructed. The want of Hospital accomfirst
modation for Calcutta is
an
urgent one, and cannot be set aside ; difficulty fairly in the face, and
it would be better to look the
although Hospital
for the present,
improvements
in
the Medical
College
may be all very well, they should be only preliminary to the construction of a Hospital on modern and rational prin-
ciples becoming wants of so large
Capital of British India, adapted to the population, and absolutely necessary as a instruction for one of the largest Medical
the a
practical school of Schools in the world.
17
we are
to learn that the Government has
appointed
a
valid, and to make suggestions, either for the utilization of the present buildCommittee to consider how far the
ing in some other capacity, be
capable
for such
are
improvements
as
it may
of.
We congratulate the authorities
or
objections
on
public,
this move in the
the
patients, and the Hospital right direction, atul, if we are not
mistaken, it is exactly what the latter desire. The Committee is well selected, and comprises all the elements required to ensure for this important subject due consideration, consisting of Medical, Engineer, and Civil Officers. With influential representatives from the mercantile and native communities, it should he able to grasp at all points, and to develope such information
Government may need. In the event of the Committee
as
recommending that the Hospital, there can be no doubt that such recommendation must be endorsed by others, for many changes and improvements of which it is susceptible, and by which its utility and efficiency may be greatly enlarged. The radical defects of construction are, of course, irremediable, but there are so many mirier points where improvement may be
building
should be retained
made, that
we
as a
look forward with much satisfaction to the result
of this Committee's deliberations.
There
can
be
no
doubt that,
however excellent the
building may be as a work of architecture, it is not well adapted for a Hospital. For a College or University with library, reading, lecture, examination, and senate rooms, it would have been well suited, and it is a pity that the suggestion that it should be so made use of, was not adopted, and the money sanctioned for the said University assigned for the purpose of building a new Hospital. But as that, apparently, is not to be, we hope that all that can now be done to render the a
Hospital
building
more
fit than at present for
will be carried into effect.
The Committee will to the records, and
by
probably
obtain information
by
reference
examination of the Medical Officei'3 of the
Hospital. But we may briefly indicate some of the defects which require consideration. The first and greatest defect of all?the massing together, under one roof and in one common atmosphere, (for such is necessarily the case where all the wards communicate) of 300 sick people without means of separation, segregation, or proper ventilation?cannot now be obviated, but still its ill effects may be diminished by removing the surgical patients to one side, and keeping the medical patients on the other. This would necessitate the removal of the Midwifery Department to another suitable building, a step which should bo taken without delay. The addition of new verandahs, of
rooms
for out-patients and
for admission, of quarters for resident officers, clinical clerks,dressers, nurses, and Hospital attendants; of retiring
those
waiting
rooms
for the Medical Officers for the purposes of convenience or
consultation ; the construction of a new operating theatre in a more secluded part of the building, and the removal of the present
conspicuous position, thus making room for other appropriate purposes ; the removal of the water-closets from within the body of the building; the construction of fitting bathrooms, the introduction of a proper water-supply, and of lighting by gas ; the enlargement and better drainage of the Hospital compound and its vicinity, so as to provide airing
one
from its
more
THE CALCUTTA MEDICAL COLLEGE WiTn reference to the
representations
that
HOSPITAL.
have,
from time to
time, been made of tlic defective state of the Medical College Hospital, and of its unfitness (according to the most recent views ori these subjects) for the purposes for which it was intended,
grounds for phere
the convalescents, and
for the sick
>
aa
a
more
wholesome atmos-
iucrease of the resideut staff,
as
already
TIIE WORK OF DEPUTY INSPECTORS-GENERAL.
Jaxtaby 1, 1867.] recommended
bj
the Commission that sat on the Civil Medical
months ago ; increase of the subordinate and Appointments departments; augmentation of the allowance for diet and wine,?all these are subjects prominently requiring the attention of the Committee, and can easily be carried out. Last year, at the urgent instance of the Surgeons of the institution, the Hospital was emptied, the sick being placed in tents, and the building thoroughly cleansed, fumigated, and whitewashed ; on returning to the Hospital the number of beds some
menial
in each ward
clearly
was
reduced from
been favorable.
24
to 16, and the result has
Ochletic disease has been less
prevalent
The deaths from pycemia have been less frequent, and
the
surgical operation performed after the re-occupation of the Hospital?an amputation of the thigh?recovered, an event which is somewhat unusual in this or other Calcutta Hospitals. Since then a second case of amputation of the thigh has also done well, and there has been less tendency in the cases generally than previously to the development of that toxtemic condition, which proves so destructive. But this advantage has been obtained by the sacrifice of much accommodation; and each patient has now an amount of cubic space beyond the requirements of modern sanitary science; and he needs it to place him under the most favorable condition for recovery that the Hospital can offer. This, we fear, is irremediable, for to increase the number of beds again in each ward, would, after past experience, be unjustifiable. It is melancholy to think that the metropolis of India is, in respect of Hospitals, behind the smallest Military or Civil Station ; for there, although the Hospital be small, it is at all events somewhat commensurate with the requirements of the place, and built on the most recent and approved principles of Hospital construction, a science which, rapidly developed of late years, was in its infancy when the Calcutta Hospitals were built. The requirements of this great city are daily increasing, and are not to be met by mere temporary expedients and adaptation of other buildings to purposes for which they were not constructed. The want of Hospital accomfirst
modation for Calcutta is
an
urgent one, and cannot be set aside ; difficulty fairly in the face, and
it would be better to look the
although Hospital
for the present,
improvements
in
the Medical
College
may be all very well, they should be only preliminary to the construction of a Hospital on modern and rational prin-
ciples becoming wants of so large
Capital of British India, adapted to the population, and absolutely necessary as a instruction for one of the largest Medical
the a
practical school of Schools in the world.
17
