( 4 )
Of the 30 deaths in 1919, six were from dysentery, three from epilepsy, two
from maniacal excitement, five from debility and eight from tubercle of the lungs ;
while of the 34 deaths in 1920, diarrhœa accounted for seven, anaemia and debility
for five each, maniacal excitement three and malarial fever and epilepsy for two
each.
Benares.—The number of deaths in this asylum during the triennium under
report was 65 in excess of the number during the previous three years. The high
mortality in 1918 (95 deaths) is mainly due to 20 deaths from influenza and seven
from cholera. There were 18 deaths from maniacal excitement, 11 from epilepsy,
nine from anaemia, seven from debility and five each from tubercle of the lungs and
Brights disease. Of these 95 patients who died no less than 19 were admitted to
the asylum in indifferent health, 22 in bad and 11 in very bad health. Twenty
patients had been in the asylum under five years, seven under ten years, ten under
15 years, nine under 20 years, three under 25 years, one under 30 years and four
under 40 years.
Of the 59 deaths in 1920, no less than ten were attributable to hook worm
infection. Much attention has been paid to this disease recently in the asylum.
The Superintendent reports that the infection is widespread and contributes largely
to the difficulties of dealing with inter-current disease. Dysentery and diarrhoea
accounted for nine and five deaths respectively. Of the 59 patients who died 20
were in bad and 13 in very bad health on admission to the asylum, while 12 had
been in the institution under three months, 17 under a year and 11 under two and
11 under five years.
Agra.—The number of deaths in this asylum during the triennium under
report exceeded those during the years 1915—17 by 89, and during the
year 1918 the number of deaths reached the high figure of 121. The influenza
epidemic accounted for 54 deaths and of the remaining deaths many were due to
the debility ensuing among those who recovered from influenza, rendering them a
ready prey to other diseases such as pneumonia and tubercle of the lungs. There
were 14 deaths from this latter disease in 1918, 17 in 1919 and 18 in 1920, while
the deaths from pneumonia in 1919 and 1920 numbered 6 and 4 respectively.
Twelve deaths occurred in 1918 from epilepsy against 5 and 4 during the two
following years. Of the new admissions in 1918 twenty-four were in bad and
fifteen in very bad health. Of the patients who died in 1918, 10 had been for less
than 3 months in the asylum, 20 under one year, 19 under 2 years, 27 under 5
years and 29 under 10 years. There were 10 deaths over 60 years of age, 35
between 40 and 60 and 72 between 20 and 40.
Sickness and
cure.
6. It is satisfactory to find that although the daily average strength in the
three asylums was 4321.03 during 1918—20 as compared with 4276.55 during
1915—17, and the daily average sick was 716.95 as compared with 540.60 the
percentage of cures rose from 33.84 to 48.43. The chief causes of sickness during
the triennium were: —
Benares ...
Bareilly ...
Agra ...
Total ...
Tubercle of
the lungs.
21
35
156
212
Epilepsy.
31
20
156
207
Pneumonia.
4
22
25
51
Dysentery.
76
40
9
125
Diarrhoea.
9
41
1
51
Heart disease.
...
1
4
5
Malaria fever.
83
113
106
302
Heat stroke.
...
1
3
4
General debi¬
litv.
27
49
111
187
Influenza.
176
164
121
461
Anaemia.
20
22
69
111
Brights dis-
ease.
7
14
8
29
Cholera.
16
...
...
16
Total.
470
522
769
1,761
Criminal lunatics.
Statement II.
7. The number of criminal lunatics confined in the asylums on the 1st
January, 1920, was 278. The admissions during the year were 60 making a total
asylum population of this class of 338 as compared with 351 in 1919 and 364 in
1918.
Of these 338 patients, 53 were discharged or transferred, 19 died; the
number remaining on the 31st December, 1920, being 266 against 278 in
1919 and 269 in 1918. The daily average strength was 279.27 against 270.82 and
298.04 during the two previous years.