4
The sanitary condition of the Asylum has much improved. Proposals
for the improvement of the drainage system of the Asylum is under consi-
deration. Arrangements are being made for holding Divine Services at the
Asylum.
During the triennium under review, the Asylum was visited by His
Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, the Hon'ble Member in charge of Medical
Department, the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals, Bihar and Orissa,
four times, the Director-General of Indian Medical Service, the Sanitary
Engineer, Bihar and Orissa, the Sanitary Commissioner, Bihar and Orissa, the
Commissioner of the Chota Nagpur Division and the Secretary to the Govern-
ment in the Municipal Department. The Asylum was also visited by the Com-
mittee of the Calcutta Branch of the European Association.
Improvements are constantly being made to this institution but there is still
very much to be done to increase the comfort and well-being of the patients
and to facilitate a scientific study of their diseases.
THE PATNA LUNATIC ASYLUM.
With the opening of a new sleeping barrack of 40 beds in 1918, the accom¬
modation at the Patna Lunatic Asylum was raised to 330 for males and 66 for
females. The maximum number confined in one night was 265 males and 46
females. There was no overcrowding except for the space area which is
only 9 acres and 16 poles inclusive of extramural land and quarters of the
staff. There are no separate blocks for criminal and non-criminal lunatics and
for paying patients and these classes of lunatics associate with one another.
But as the buildings for the Asylum for Indian insanes which forms a
part of the scheme for the establishment of both the European and Indiain
Lunatic Asylums at Ranchi are now under construction, it is not desirable to
make any additions and alterations to the Patna Lunatic Asylum.
2. Population.—The total number of lunatics treated at this Asylum
was 404 in 1918, 379 in 1919 and 338 in 1920 or an average of 373.66 against
396.33 in the previous triennium. There was a gradual decline in the popu-
lation mainly due to fewer admissions. The total number of new lunatics
admitted was 91 in 1918,80 in 1919 and 65 in 1920. The decline was especially
notable in military lunatics as the war came to a close. The numbers re-ad¬
mitted were 18, 13 and 18 in 1918, 1919 and 1920 respectively. The total
numbers discharged from this Asylum were 83 in 1918, 78 in 1919 and 58 in
1920. Of these, 47,44 and 27 were cured in 1918,1919 and 1920 respectively.
The percentages of cured to daily average strength were 15.60, 16.37 and 10.69
in 1918, 1919 and 1920 respectively or an average of 14.22 against 11.15 in the
previous triennium. The increase in the triennium under report is due to rapid
recoveries of military" lunatics who suffered from acute types of insanity caused
by the stress and strain of field service.
3. Sickness and mortality.—Excluding
Ankylostomia cases, other than
very severe, the number of admissions in hospital in this Asylum was 490 in
1918, 380 in 1919 and 358 in 1920 i.e., a total of 1,228 against 1,030 in the
previous triennium. The daily average sick was 34.45 in 1918, 32.67 in 1919
and 44.42 in 1920 or an average of 37.18 against 24.32 in the previous triennium.
The increase was mainly due to epidemics of influenza. The number of Diarrhœa
cases was 15 in 1918, 10 in 1919 and 25 in 1920. The increase in 1920 was
due to defects in the drinking water as the boiler was out of order for more
than 8 months. The total number of cases suffering from tuberculosis of the
lung was 34 during the three years under report against 31 in the previous trien-
nium. These patients were segregated in a special open ward built in 1916.
The admissions for dysentery were only 9 in 1920 against 30 in 1919 and 39 in
1918. The decrease is probably due to segregation of dysentery cases and
carriers in 1920 and the latter part of 1919. The Amœbic cases were treated,
with Emetine and Emetine Bismuthi Iodide with much benefit. The largest
number of admissions was from Influenza, Ankylostomiasis (severe type),
Diarrhœa, Abscess, minor injuries and Pyrexia of uncertain origin. The
number of deaths was 35 in 1918, 46 in 1919 and 24 in 1 20. The causes of
death were chiefly Ankylostomiasis, Influenza and Tuberculosis.