STATISTICS OF THE JAIL POPULATION OF BENGAL FROM 1859 TO 1876. [Section III.
174
typhus was re-introduced from the jails of the North-Western Provinces; and although this
last was limited to the eastern circle of jails, the jail mortality for the province rose to 82.
From 1861 onwards to the present, perhaps not a single year has passed without the appear
-ance of contagious fever in some shape. In the first years many jails suffered in common;
but of late, two or three jails only have brought forward contagious disease in each year.
I shall contrast the respiratory diseases of the Lahore Central Jail, dividing the 6 years
1869-74 into two periods. The object is to show the associa
-tion of contagious disease occurring simultaneously with the
increase in mortality observed in the two last years. In Oc
-tober and November 1873 erysipelas and diphtheria appeared;
106 cases, and 10 deaths occurred from erysipelas before the
disease ceased in July 1874, and 154 cases and 22 deaths from diphtheria took place in the same
months. Now, these very same diseases we find frequently associated with the prevalence of
contagious fevers and typhoid pneumonia, either in jails or epidemic among the free popula
- t i o n ; a n d t h e s i m u l t a n e o u s a p p e a r a n c e a n d g e n e r a l a s s o c i a t i o n s u g g e s t s t h e e x t r e m e p r o b a b i l i t y
that in some jail outbreaks the pneumonic disease which has so enormously increased of late is a
manifestation of a contagion introduced from without.
In some instances I find that pneumonia and diphtheria were present in the same case; and
in one case I observe that fatal erysipelas supervened on diphtheria. Nearly all these cases of
diphtheria proved fatal within two days. The post mortem condition was the same in all,
showing the throat and upper part of the larynx and trachea covered with a jelly-like white
or ash-coloured exudation, while the lungs were in most cases free from actual disease.
Deaths from Respiratory Diseases, Lahore Jail.
Strength. Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Total.
1869
2,089
1
2
3 2 3 11
1870
2,1910 7 6
1
1
1 1 3 20
1871
2,456 6
1
1 1
1
3 1 14
1872
2,344
2 2
2 1
1
1 10 17
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1873
2,224 19 10 7
2 3
1
5 5 11 17 80
1874
2,393 17 5 5
1 3 2
1 2
2 3 7 10 58
The coincidence between the prevalence of this pneumonia and the contagious diseases,
erysipelas and diphtheria, is thus shown:—
Admissions from Erysipelas.
Oct. Nov. Dec.
1873
2
6
36
Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug.
1874
1 6
6
4
6
20
9
1
Admissions and Deaths from Diphtheria—admitted 159, died 22.
Oct. Nov. Dec.
1873
18-5 19-1
Jan. Feb. Mar. April. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
1874
2 6 - 8 27-2 13
5-1 36-3 8-2
2
1 2
1
1
The Civil Surgeon of Mooltan, describing the pneumonic
outbreak of 1870 in his jail, says, he is certain that in some
way it is communicated from the sick to the healthy.
The following case occurred during or immediately after the epidemic of pleuro-pneu
- m o n i a . I t w a s r e t u r n e d a s a c a s e o f c e r e b r o - s p i n a l t y p h u s .
"A strong, healthy-looking young man, aged 29, was admitted on 17th May with fever.
Nothing unusual was observed in his case. On the morning of the 18th he was sitting up.
His body was slightly hot, and the right wrist-joint was swollen and painful. At 11 A. M., he
was attacked with very strong fever, and became rapidly comatose and died at 2 P. M."
"After death a large number of petechial spots were seen over the right arm and shoulder-
joint, which were not observed during life."
Dr. Lethbridge, speaking of the mortality in the Lahore Jail,
states his view of the nature of the affection thus:
—
"I have not had an opportunity of observing many cases of pleuro-pneumonia, but, judging
from those that I have seen, I should say that it was a continued fever, having a general
resemblance to typhus and typhoid fevers,—not so infectious perhaps, but running a more
rapid course than either of them; this is probably due to the extreme prostration produced
by the pneumonia. A first attack does not appear to afford a protection against a subsequent
one. A sweeper employed in attending the sick was twice attacked with pleuro-pneumonia last
year, and the second attack proved fatal. The premonitory fever is at first relieved by slight
remissions; in the course of two or three days, pneumonia sets in, and the case now runs a most
rapid course. Convalescence is sudden, especially when the lungs are not much affected. A
case is seldom prolonged in its acute stage beyond the twelfth day. Recovery is sometimes
The alliance of certain respir
- a t o r y d i s e a s e s w i t h e r y s i p e l a s a n d diphtheria: Lahore Central Jail
1873-74.
Pneumonia of the Mooltan Jail.
Typhoid pneumonia of the Lahore
Jail.