392
TROOPS.
There is a considerable decrease as regards sickness among the Troops this year, the admissions to Hospital being 1,851 against 1,915 in 1890. The death rate shows a slight increase, being 17 as compared with 15 in 1890. The following Table gives the sickness and mortality for the last ten years. The former has only been exceeded once, and the latter only twice in that time so that there is much room for improvement and better accommodation is evidently very much wanted:
1882,
1883,
1884,
1885,
1886,
1887,
1888,
1889,
1890,
1891,
Admissions.
.1,019.....
...........1,105...
.1,097 ................................
Deaths.
9
...10
..12
.1,190......
.....24
.1,607.................
9
1,749.......
1,485......
···14
.21
1,732.............16
1,915.....................15
..1,851........................................17
GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.
The Superintendent's report is a very satisfactory one as regards the working of this institution, and the improvements nearly completed and those sanctioned will very much increase its efficiency.
The Staff with one exception have worked very satisfactorily, the exception is the Junior Ward- masters. We do not seem to be able to get over the trouble we have always had with them and the changes are nearly as frequent as ever.
The Nursing Sisters' work has been all that could be desired of them, and they have been the greatest acquisition to the Hospital. Of all the improvements none have been more important than their introduction.
It is with great regret that I have to mention the loss of Mr. ROGERS, the late Steward. He was the first to hold this appointment and no one could have done the work more satisfactorily. He well earned the respect and esteem of all who knew him, and I am very sorry he had to retire on account of ill health. Still I am glad to report that we have found an efficient substitute in Mr. CHAPMAN to take his place.
The admissions to Hospital show a decrease of ninety, the decrease is partly satisfactory as it is amongst the Police, Government Servants, Police Cases, and Destitutes. The decrease amongst the paying patients has been principally because the wards have always been full and applicants have had to be refused, but the increase of accommodation that has been sanctioned will, I hope, in another year obviate the troubles we have had in accommodating this class of patients. They do not, as a rule, come in unless they are in pretty bad case, and most of them require to remain for a very long time. Many that desired first class accommodation, that is a ward to themselves, have had to be put on the second class list, that is with one other patient in the ward. The old system of having junior messes at every
Bank and Mercantile House having been nearly done away with, and most young men now living in chambers and messing at the Clubs, or the Hotels, has greatly increased this demand, as will be seen in the Table below when comparing the first three years with the last three years of the ten given.
The following Table shows the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the past ten years:-
1882.
1883. 1884.
1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. 1890. 1891.
Police,
549
599
486
495
602
619
657
590
582
570
Board of Trade,
116
110
60
100
182
103
153
135
110
135
Private paying Patients,
268
260
259
283
381
324
313
402
527
464
Government Servants,
88
105
96
124
144
147
159
135
191
179
Police Cases,
207
227
231
238
142
208
242
252
264
240
Destitutes,
280
201
222
270
222
255
248
279
283
279
1,458 1,502 1,354 1,510
1,623
1,656 1,772 1,793 1,957 1,867
The percentage of deaths to admissions compares favourably with former years-4.49. Only twice in the last ten years has it been as low as this, see Table VI. Of the 84 deaths, 25 occurred within 24 hours of admission, and 32 within 48 hours, all being in a moribund condition.