128 AROUND THE WORLD VIA INDIA. 



made a satisfactory recovery, but returned recently to 

 receive treatment for obscure digestive symptoms. In 

 another case, a fourth operation for echinococcus of the 

 omentum in a young woman had been successful a few 

 days ago. 



In all aseptic cases the wounds had healed or were 

 healing by primary intention. All the wards were made 

 comfortable and cheerful by fires in open grates and a 

 liberal supply of flowers placed on the center tables and 

 small bouquets for each bed, gifts of the Flower Mis- 

 sion. Cyanid gauze for dressing retains its reputation 

 in this institution. Fine silk has almost entirely dis- 

 placed the absorbable suture in the practice of Messrs. 

 Bird and Syme. In the absence of contraindications 

 chloroform is used as the routine anesthetic, adminis- 

 tered with an Esmarch mask. The great work this 

 hospital is doing for the sick of Melbourne and the state 

 of Victoria can be seen from the last report. 1903-1904. 

 The total number of patients treated was 22,925, and 

 of these 4,328 were received into the wards. The num- 

 ber of casualties treated in the out-patients' department 

 was 7.544. In the infectious diseases department 338 

 cases were treated, of which 162 were diphtheria. Al- 

 though the antitoxin treatment is in constant use. intu- 

 bation was performed on 39 and tracheotomy on 14, 

 for the relief of urgent symptoms, and only two of the 

 tracheotomies succeeded in saving life. This unfavor- 

 able experience in the treatment of this disease was due 

 to the fact that many of the children, when admitted, 

 were in a condition beyond the curative power of the 

 specific treatment. One hundred and seventy-one cases 

 of typhoid fever were treated during the year, with a 

 mortality of 18. Pneumonia appears to have been very 

 ' virulent, as 63 out of 133 cases died, a mortality of near- 

 ly 50 per cent. The surgical showing of this hospital 

 is excellent. Exploratory laparotomy was made 39 

 times without a death. Of 32 cases of hydatids of the 

 liver operated on. 1 died ; of 11 cases of abdominal hyda- 



