Triennial report on the hospitals and dispensaries in Burma.

  • Burma.
Date:
[1919]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Triennial report on the hospitals and dispensaries in Burma. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/62 (page 6)
    Statement B. m and 191 or i8’6 per cent, abnormal, a very high figure, which confirms the opinion I have long entertained that difficult labour is much more common amongst Burmans than amongst European women. I do not know if any series of pelvic measurements have ever been made, but my impression is that these measurements are smaller than amongst European women even after allowing for difference in stature. It is difficult to get figures for comparison, but to take a couple of items —Per cent, of Face Presentations: Europeans +‘33, Burmese '8; Traverse Presentation : Europeans '5 and Burmese 1*07. Placenta Praevia is certainly much more common than in Europe, but I cannot give any reliable statistics. the number of instrumental deliveries. The death-rate was 2’83 per cent, as compared with 3 per cent, last year, but there is no information as to how many deaths occurred during child-birth. The out-patients department continues to grow, 15,032 new and 20,989 old cases attended against 13,935 new and 19,881 old last year. I have doubts about the wisdom of this policy of fostering the out-patients department, which is now largely engaged in the treatment of general diseases amongst women and children. All Dufferin Nurses and Results System Midwives receive their obstetric training at this hospital. 14. Rangoon General Hospital.—The Rangoon General Hospital has suffered to the same extent as the rest of the province from lack of superior staff. Only ,three Indian Medical Service Officers have been available during the greater part of the triennium. The Civil Surgeon, Rangoon West, carries out the duties of Ophthalmic Surgeon including Nose, Ear and Throat and X-Ray Departments, and is Superintendent of the Medical School. The Civil Surgeon, Rangoon East, acts as Police Surgeon, while the post of Pathologist is held by the Director, Pasteur Institute, who is also Bacteriologist to the Local Government. The Nursing staff has also been greatly depleted; there are only 5^ Nurses on the staff out of a sanctioned strength of 73. Extra Burman and Karen probationers have been recruited and relieve the pressure to some • extent, but the shortage of capable and reliable nurses is greatly felt. The number of in-patients admitted in 1919 was 8,786 practically the same figure as for 1917 and 1918, the reason simply being that in all three years the available beds were occupied to their full extent, and even more. It is unsatis¬ factory to note that Burmans formed only between 18 and 19 per cent, of both in- and out-patients. It may not be true to say that the hospital exists for the benefit of the Indian cooly, but there would be great deal of truth in the criticism and the question of popularizing the institution amongst Burmans requires atten¬ tion. The daily average number of in-door patients was 472 in 1919, while the number of beds was nominally only 443. This overcrowding has been con¬ tinuous during the triennium. One cause for this is the use of the hospital as a “ Poor House.” Many old chronic cases before which Medical Science is powerless, fill beds which could be put to much better use. An Infirmary ward, either in the hospital compound or elsewhere, is an urgent requirement. The question is under consideration by a committee, but so far no progress has been made towards its solution. Another way in which some relief to the present overcrowding could be obtained is the establishment of a Tubercular Hospital or Sanatorium in some place better suited for the treatment of that disease than the centre of a large town. During 1919 there were 354 admissions with 128 deaths, a larger number than that due to any other disease. There has been a progressive decline in the number of out-door patients ever since the war broke out • for the triennium 1911 —13 they numbered 211,053, for 1914—16 200,567, and for 1917-19 192,862, a total falling off of 18,191 cases. This decline is not of any great significance and will disappear when conditions resume their normal course. I do not think enough use hag been made of this hospital in the past as a training ground for the Civil Medical Service in Burma. The tendency has been when a man was found efficient and suitable to keep him more or less permanently. This may be excellent for the man and for the hospital, but the question should be looked at from a wider point of view. The hospital is a Provincial Institution and the province has a just claim that its needs should be considered. In no way can the Rangoon Hospital 1 leet provincial claims better than by giving the younger members of the Med cal Service a training and experience which they cannot obtain elsewhere and sending them out into the districts better equipped