( 3 )
The following table shows the mortality in each institution during the last
six years:—
1917 ...
1916 ...
1915 ...
Total ...
1914 ...
1913 ...
1912 ...
Total ...
Bareilly.
41
23
32
96
24
19
23
66
Benares.
27
34
62
123
45
37
36
118
Agra.
70
35
46
151
70
48
59
177
Total.
138
92
140
370
139
104
118
361
The number at Bareilly and Benares rose from 66 and 118 to 96 and 123,
while that at Agra decreased from 177 to 151.
Bareilly.—The death-rate for this asylum during 1917 was unfortunately
somewhat high. One death was due to snake bite and four were due to cholera, a
slight outbreak of which occurred a few weeks ago. Tubercle, which was as usual
the most fatal disease, accounted for 14 deaths, while five were due to pneumonia,
five to dysentery and four to epilepsy. Of the 84 lunatics admitted during the year
no less than 18 were in bad and one in very bad health. Four of these died
within three months, and three more within one year of their admissions. Of the
41 who died three were over 60 years of age and 15 between 40 and 60 years.
Nine had been in the asylum under five years, eight under ten years, one under
fifteen years, seven under twenty years, one under twenty-five years, three under
thirty years and one under forty years.
Benares.—A great improvement took place in the number of deaths in 1916
when it fell to 84 against 62 in the previous year. It fell still lower to 27 in 1917.
Of the 27 who died eight were in bad and five in very bad health on admission.
Two were over 60 years of age and 11 between 40 and 60 years. Seven bad been
in the asylum for five years, three for ten years and one for 15 years. The
majority of the new admissions were in a bad state of health and of these four
died within less than three months after their reception and seven within less
than one year. Ten deaths were due to epilepsy, five to maniacal excitement and
one was due to suicide by drowning. The decrease in the death-rate is, I believe,
to some extent due to the improved feeding arrangements introduced since the
return of Lieutenant-Colonel Crawford who is thoroughly conversant with every
detail of the working of the institution.
Agra.-—The number of deaths in this asylum during 1917 was exactly double
the number which took place during the previous year, but the year 1916 was
an exceptionally healthy one and a more correct comparison would be with the
statistics of 1915 when 46 deaths were recorded, which figure, however, was less by
24 than that of the year 1914. The high mortality in 1917 was largely due to 16
epileptics dying in status epileptious as compared with five in 1916 and one in 1915.
Anaemia accounted for nine deaths and old age (60 to 81 years) for 10 deaths
against one and six in 1916 and three and six in 1915 respectively. Twenty of
the 1917 admissions were in bad and 10 in very bad health. A high percentage
of the new admissions would not eat, and they had to be tube fed for months
before they sufficiently recovered to take their food themselves. Of the 70 who
died six died within three months and 15 within a year of their admission. Three
had been in confinement for over thirty years, two over twenty years, one over
fifteen years, eight over ten years and 14 over five years.
Sickness and
cure.
5. It is satisfactory to note that, although the daily average strength of
the asylums in 1917 was 118 more than in 1915 and 68 more than in 1916, the
daily average sick was 165.10 against 199.59 in 1915 and 175.91 in 1916, and that
the percentage of cures which rose from 10.51 in 1915 to 12.18 in 1916 increased
to 11.15 in 1917.