Notes on the annual statistics relating to the Lunatic Asylums
in the United Provinces for the year 1910.
The following officers were in charge of the asylums during the year :—
Agra—M ajor Cochrane
Ditto
Lt.-Col. Henderson
Benares––Major Crawford
Ditto
Lt.-Col. Close
Bareilly—Lt.-Col. Woodwright
from 1 st January to 2nd September.
„ 3rd October to 31 st December.
„ 3rd September to 2nd October.
„ 1st January to 9th May.
„ 9th -November to 31st December.
„ 10th May to 8th November.
„ 1st January to 31st December.
Major Cochrane proceeded to Kasauli for a month for a course in clinical
bacteriology and during his absence Lieutenant-Colonel Henderson held charge of
the Agra Asylum in addition to his own duties.
2. The total admissions, including readmissions, were 260 or three less
than in 1909. The admissions fell from 148 to 143 in the Agra Asylum but rose
from 59 to 61 at Benares , while at Bareilly they were the same as in the previous
year, namely 56. The total population increased from 1,410 to 1,414 and the daily
average strength from 1,147 to 1,157.
3. The number discharged during the year was 171 against 148 in the
previous year. It is satisfactory to note that the number discharged as cured rose
from 122 in 1909 to 139 in 1910, which is ten more than the number similarly
discharged in 1908 when the asylum population was much larger. The daily
average sick which fell from 132 94 in 1909 to 113.47 in 1910 is,less than the
daily average sick of 1908, namely 113 53, and the percentage of cures to the daily
average strength rose to 12.01 against 10.79 in 1908 and 10.63 in 1909. The
year under report recorded a still further decrease in the number of deaths, namely
84, as compared with 108 in the previous year and 151 in 1908, and the percentage
of deaths to the daily average strength was 7.26 against 9.41 and 1262 in the two
previous years. There was no overcrowding at Bareilly and Agra, but there was
a slight increase over capacity at Benares from the end of June to the close of
September when the asylum was closed to fresh admissions. The question of the
construction of a new barrack at Benares, is still under consideration. I trust
that funds will be provided this year, for at my inspection of the institution last
October I satisfied myself that the accommodation is not fully sufficient for its needs.
4. As regards deaths, two of the three asylums report a decrease, namely
Bareilly 16 against 31, Benares 25 against 20 and Agra 43 against 57. Of the 16
deaths at Bareilly 8 were from phthisis, two each from pneumonia, epilepsy and
diarrhoea, and one each from dysentery and valvular disease of the heart. Of the
25 deaths at Benares, 10 were from dysentery, one each from malarial fever,
tubercular disease, epilepsy, excitement, injuries and diseases of the circulatory
system ; three from diarrhoea, four from diseases of the respiratory system and two
from other diseases of the digestive system. The death of an ordinary lunatic named
Durga occurred in November from injuries caused by a dangerous epileptic lunatic
who attacked and threw him down. There was one death in April from strangula-
tion, it was a case of suicide. Both formed the subject of a magisterial enquiry.
Of the 43 deaths at Agra, pneumonia accounted for 6, tubercle of lungs 8, epilepsy
5, anchylostomiasis 4, old age and dementia 3 each, dysentery, idiocy and anaemia
2 each and concussion of brain, cerebral softening, mania, leprosy, stupor, collapse
of lungs, pleurisy and general tuberculosis one each. Of the deaths from all forms of
tuberculosis four died within three months of their admission into the asylum, a
fifth within a year and the remaining four had been two years or over in the
institution. In accordance with instructions issued at my inspection in April last
every attempt was made to rid the asylum of anchylostomia infection by close
supervision to the cleaning of utensils and the administration of thymol repeatedly.
All mud-eaters were isolated and specially watched and microscopical examinations
of blood and fæces were repeatedly undertaken for purposes of diagnosis. The
four cases of deaths from the disease were diagnosed both clinically and by post
mortem. No case remaining over at the close of the year has been diagnosed as
anchylostomiasis although there remains 30 cases of anaemic mud-eaters. A lunatic