Report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals / [Ceylon].

  • Ceylon. Civil Medical Department.
Date:
[1907]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Principal Civil Medical Officer and Inspector-General of Hospitals / [Ceylon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/56 (page 41)
    B 41 Health of the Patients.—285 cases were treated in the male and female infirmaries. Of these, 51 suffered from dysentery, 18 from malarial intermittent, 18 from phthisis, 10 from heart disease, 29 from softening and degeneration of brain, 67 from intestinal disorders. The remaining suffered from less important affections. There were 4 cases of ehickenpox, which were treated in the Infectious Diseases Hospital. Deaths. The number of deaths was 69 (40 males, 29 females). The ratio of deaths to total number treated being 9-85, the ratio for males 9-07, for females 11 15. The ratio of deaths to the average daily number is 12 • 96. Ratio for males 11 • 91, for females 14 • 64. The numbei of deaths due to tubercular disease was 14. out of 69. Last year the figures were 19 out of 92. Four of this number suffered chiefly from tubercle of lung, 8 from tubercle of intestine as well as lung, 1 from general tuberculosis, and 1 from tubercular disease of bone. Tubercle was not a complication in any of the rest. The following table shows the chief causes of death and the ages of those who died :— Under 20 Years. 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70 and over. Total. ) 1 M. F. T. M. ^ F. | T. 1 M. F. T. M. F. T. r{M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. Brain Disease 1 _ 1 4 1 5 6 1 7 2 5 7 1 1 2 1 _ 1 1 1 15 9 24 Heart Disease 1 1 2 2 — — 1 — 1 — — — — — — 1 — 1 2 3 5 Tubercular Diseases 1 — 1 1 1 2 3 5 8 1 4 5 — — — 1 1 2 — — — 7 11 18 Dysentery and Intes- tinal Diseases 3 1 4 1 1 2 1 — 1 — — — — — — 5 2 7 General Paralysis of the Insane — — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 1 — 1 — — — — — — 2 — 2 Other Diseases 2 — 2 1 1 2 ■ — 2 2 — 2 2 1 3 2 1 3 1 2 3 12 4 16 Total 4 1 5 6 4 10 14 7 21 8 10 18 5 2 7 4 2 6 2 3 5 43 29 72 No fatal accident and no case of suicide occurred. Accidents.—There were three serious accidents— (1) Intra-capsular fracture of left femur, the result of an accidental fall at tennis. (2) Fracture of rib, probably caused in a struggle with the attendant in charge. The patient was very excited. (3) Colics’ fracture due to a fall in the bath. Escapes.—A patient called Hawadia stole a key from a sleeping attendant and escaped in December from No. 4 male ward. The man was quite sane, and was to be discharged on security. He has not yet been captured. Asylum and House of Observation combined.—As these institutions are worked together in one building, I now give the figures for the whole institution :— Males. Females. Total. Remained 327 194 521 Admitted 257 104 361 Total treated .. 584 298 882 Discharged ..182 64 246 Died 43 29 72 Remaining 359 205 564 The average dailv number of patients in the whole institution was 543 49 (males 342 • 83, females 200 ’66). The figures last year were for the whole institution 563*60 (males 352*60, females 211). The largest number resident at any one time in the year under review was 564, the maximum for males 360, for females 209. The figures last year were for the whole institution 601, for males 386, for females 217. Administrative.—Dr. Spence, the Superintendent of this Asylum, went on long leave on March 29, from which date the institution was in my charge. Dr. R. C. Aldons, the first assistant medical officer was transferred to the port in June, and the vacancy was filled up by i. . t. . > vamvya 'e, l( secon assistant. Dr. V. A. Goonetilleke from the Welikada jail succeeded him. . . In the clerical department Mr. C. A. Philips was appointed as steward, Mr. Rozairo reverting to his fixed appointment as clerk-overseer. , , , „ ,, There was no change in the nursing staff. Mr. Serpanchy head overseer, was responsible for the work on the male side, and Miss Smith, the matron, for the female si e. Buildings.—The milk room as well as the storeroom for food stuffs are now complete, but have not yet been given over by the Public Works Department to my charge. Both these were urgently needed. A nel bathroom and lavatory has been added to No. 8 ma o ward This ward 60 patients, and up to date is being served by a small bath and a two-seat,sd lavatcry , nee,esntalting frequent changes of buckets. The new lavatory is six-seated,and the bathroom is spacious, and has two large enamelled baths to be used for hot medicated baths for a certain class of pataents The kitchen has been put into good repair and the walls colourwashed A stove has been added to the native kitchen, and no range fires are now allowed in it. It is possible now to be the kite! e without risk of suffocation. 23(iv)08