68 X-ray apparatus are now provided at twelve provincial hospitals, as follows: Alexandria, Suez, Port Said, Tanta, Damanhour, Benha, Mansura, Kaliub, Kasr-el-Aini, Beni-Souef, Assiout and Zagazig.

War and post-war conditions nave caused a considerable increase in expenditure on the ujkeep of hospitals; the sum spent this year was £E. 183,142 as against £E. 166,218 in 1918. The utmost economy compatible with efficiency has been exercised, as is shown by the figures of the cost per patient per day for the years 1915 to 1919 Milliemes. 1915: cost per patient per day ... ... ... 134 1916 : cost per patient per day ... ... ... 130 1917 : co«t per patient per day ... ... ... 131 1918 : cost per patient per day ... ... ... 149 1919 : cost per patient per day ... ... ... 179 The total receipts from hospitals show a decrease of £E. 5,180, the figures being £E. 18,097 in 1919 as compared with £E. 23,277 in 1918. The reduction is due to the diminished number of military patients and to the interruption of communications owing to the political disturbances in the spring.

An increase of the medical staff of the hospitals at Bena, Sohag and Kena has been found necessary, and a second medical officer has been appointed to each of them. It is intended to malce a similar addition to the staffs of the other hospitals which continue to be worked by one medical officer. These are Daraietta, Assouan and Esna.

English matrons will also be provided for the hospitals as soon as quarters can be built for them.

GENERAL Hospital Statistics.

Number of hospitals Number of beds Number of in-patients Of wliicli voluntary patients Death-rate of in-patients Number of days of treatment Number of now out-palionts .. Number of out-patients’ visits Arajor operations .. Cost of upkeep Receipts ..

I’er cent £E £E 1918.

2'1 •l,o43 7.5.002 .88,612 6-‘M6 .,117,791 215,417 4:16,0.85 .8,500 166,218 2.8,277 1919.

24 4,592 64,704 83,299 6*571 1,021,498 219,573 402,996 9,051 18.8,142 18.097 Ophthalmic Hospitals.

There are eighteen ophthalmic hospitals, fourteen of which have been built by public subscription or out of funds provided by the Provincial Councils. Eleven of the hospitals are maintained by the Government and five by the Provincial Councils.

The attendances continue to be most satisfactory, and the work caried out is highly appreciated by the people. Five of the hospitals are travelling camps, v/hicb are dotted about the country and remain in situ for three or foui‘ months at a time, afi'ording ophthalmic relief to quite an extended zone around them.

The annual cost of the whole system of ophthalmic hospitals, including expenses of administration, was £E. 36,107 in 1919, of this sum the IProvincial Councils provided £E. 3,560.

The two chief diseases dealt with are trachoma and acute contagious ophthalmia—the latter being the chief cause of blindness in Egypt. More than 12,000 of the persons who sought treatment at the hospitals in 1919 were blind in one or both eyes, i.e., 15 per cent, of new patients.

It is interesting to note that the importance of early treatment for children attacked by ophthahnia is now being recognised by the people, who readily bring their children to hospital for treatment.

A large central 100-bedded ophthalmic hospital for Cairo is sorely needed, for though several ophthalmic clinics, out-patient sections and dispensaries exist, the director of the ophthalmic section is insistent upon the need for a large central House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.