Chapter II.]
ASPECTS IN WHICH THE DESTRUCTIVE DISEASES OF JAILS APPEAR.
167
Mortality of the Jail at Monghyr contrasted in the two periods, 1859-67 and 1868-76.
Years.
Strength. Cholera
Deaths.
Total
Mortality.
Death rate
per 1,000.
1859
444
18
64
144.1
1860
401
19
67
167.1
1861
288
8
46
159.7
1862
269
14
49
182.2
1863
380
39
171
450.0
1864
362
16
44.2
1865
378
6
21
55.6
1866
468
6
38
81.2
1867
394
8
25
63.4
3,384
118
497
146.9
Years.
Strength. Cholera
Deaths.
Total
Mortality.
Death
rate
per 1,000.
1868
354
11
31.1
1869
356
14
39.3
1870
323
1
7
21.7
1871
279
1
8
28.7
1872
299
9
3 0 . 1
1873
374
10
26.7
1874
375
11
29.3
1875
380
14
22
57.9
1876
383
6
15.7
3,123
16
98
31.4
It is very interesting to see how, with the general improvement, cholera has ceased to
appear annually in this jail,—a phenomenon parallel with that quoted in the cholera section of
this report, as illustrating the extraordinary contrast in the cholera death-rate of the Central
Jails of the North-Western Provinces in the periods 1859-67 and 1868-76.
The diminution shown in the death-rate is from 147 to 31 per 1,000. It is, however,
necessary to qualify this statement as far as the ratio is affected by the deaths of 1863. A
gang of prisoners, about 100 strong, was brought from Rungpore for change, and in order to
relieve overcrowding. Twenty per cent. of the strength had died in the Rungpore Jail in 1862,
and fatal disease had stricken down many of the survivors. The Civil Surgeon of Monghyr
mentions, that of this gang scarcely any were alive at the end of 1863.
The Backergun ge, Rungpore, and Dinagepore Jails are typical for unhealthy jails of
Eastern Bengal.* These are jails specially liable to suffer in
consequence of the geographical position which they occupy.
They are essentially unhealthy jails. The Backergunge Jail
has not failed in any one year to localise cholera when the cholera season has come round. In
six years only out of the eighteen, the death-rate of the Backergunge Jail has been under 10
per cent. of the average strength; in the Rungpore Jail, also, in seven years only has the
mortality been below the same rate of 10 per cent.; and in Dinagepore, a comparatively healthy
jail of late years, in eight out of the eighteen years, a minimum of 9 per cent. was exceeded.
Within the last nine years Backergunge has reduced the mortality from 149 to 101 per 1,000.
Rungpore remains at 128 in both nine-year periods. Dinagepore shows in the late years a death-
rate of 56, brought down from 122.
Here we have to deal with local and endemic conditions always at hand to take advantage
of any weakness.
The following statement shows the form in which the endemic causes of disease manifest
themselves. It may be taken as typical for the region of
perennial moisture, where the ever-existing conditions tell slowly
and surely on the constitution, and with very little variation
in intensity from month to month.
In the ten years 1867-76, 977 prisoners died in the Backergunge and Rungpore Jails.
From cholera 114, died, and 9 deaths from violence occurred. The 854 deaths remaining were
made up thus—dysentery, 469; 100; fevers, 71; dropsy, 64; respiratory diseases,
44; atrophy, 37; spleen disease, 19; apoplexy, 7; heart disease, 6; hepatitis, 4; scurvy, 1;
and all other causes, 32. In the 1,000, these causes of mortality were proportioned thus:—
Dysentery
and
Diarrhœa.
Phthisis.
Fevers. Dropsy. Respiratory Diseases.
Atrophy.
Spleen
Disease.
All other
Causes.
549
117
83
75
52
43
22
5 9 = 1 , 0 0 0
Dr. Herbert Baillie, then in charge of the Alipore Jail, gives in. his report for 1858, the
following very vivid description of the method in which cachectic prisoners die in time jails of
Lower Bengal. It thoroughly illustrates the figures of the preceding table. He writes:
"Most of those who died laboured not under one, but a complication of diseases, arising
from a eachectic state of the system. A prisoner is relieved of an attack of dyspepsia and is
sent back to jail. After a while, be returns to hospital with diarrhœa or dysentery. His
aspect has much altered in the interval. Anasarca of the extremities and perhaps swelling of
the face, is observed. After a few weeks, serous effusion into the peritoneum occurs; the
diarrhœa or dysenteric affection is relieved, but an attack of bronchitis or pleurisy or perhaps
pneumonia, sets in. This has to be combated, the dropsical tendency all the while increasing.
The kidneys then are possibly found affected, and at last the poor wretch dies completely
worn out. After death, if not detected during life, tubercles or even tubercular cavities are
often found, which have served to hasten the termination of the case. Such was the progress
in many of the fatal eases recorded."
* S e e T a b l e s X X I V a n d X X V I .
Bad jails of Northern and Eastern
Bengal which always show a high
death-ratio. Illustrations.
Forms which disease has assumed
in these jails.