4
STATEMENT VIII.—SICKNESS AND MORTALITY.
33. Lahore Asylum.—The admissions to hospital were 417 male patients and
75 female—total 492. In 1894, 414 men and 103 women—total 517, were treated
in hospital. The comparative absence of malaria mainly accounts for the smaller
number of sick last year, for there were only 172 malarial patients, whereas
in 1894 there were 214. On the other hand, pneumonia was frequent, and un-
fortunately often fatal. An apparently infective type of the disease prevailed,
not only in the Asylum but also outside. The inmates being favorably placed
for its spread, several cases occurred.
34. Another potent cause of illness was debility; 59 patients were in
hospital from this condition, being more than twice the number admitted in the
previous year.
35. Delhi Asylum.—There were 35 men and 16 women in hospital—total
51. In 1894 the numbers were 49 males and 18 females—total 67.
36. Dysentery and pneumonia were less frequent than in former years.
The lunatics in this Asylum seem generally to be more healthy than those in
Lahore, for there were but 3 admissions from debility. In Lahore, as just noticed,
there were 59. Allowing for the smaller population in Delhi, debility is about
nine times as common amongst the Lahore inmates, although the diet scale in
each institution is similar. This state of things is not peculiar to the year under
report, but it is more marked than heretofore. The Superintendent in Lahore used
his discretionary power and increased the allowance of gram for some of the
lunatics but without much evident benefit.
DEATHS.
37. Lahore.—The highest mortality on record, with the exception of that
for 1892, occurred last year. In 1892 cholera was epidemic and caused 12 of
the total 52 deaths; the year was also a generally unhealthy one. In 1895
there was no cholera and the year was fairly healthy; nevertheless 40 deaths
took place in the Asylum.
38. The percentage of these deaths to the daily average strength was
16.8. In the previous ten years it was 11.31.
39. The causes of death were as follows :—
Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ...
Tubercle of the lungs
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery ... ... ... ... ...
Diarrhœa ... ... ... ... ...
Debility ... ... ... ... ...
Acute mania ... ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy ... ... ... ... ...
Heat apoplexy ... ... ... ... ...
Meningitis ... ... ... ... ...
Compression of the brain ... ... ... ... ...
Perityphlitis ... ... ... ... ...
Acute pneumonic phthisis ... ... ... ... ...
Anœmia ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
14
7
5
2 2
2
2 1
1
1
1
1
1
40
40. All the deaths from tubercle of the lungs and 9 of those from pneumo-
nia took place in the cold weather months. The man who died from compression
of the brain had been badly beaten. Five of the warders were sent for trial on
this account, but were acquitted. They were, however, dismissed from the
Asylum.
41. Regarding the deaths from dysentery and diarrhœa, the Superinten-
dent remarks that these ailments are favoured by the buildings having mud floors
and walls, thus affording material for the earth-eaters to devour. This neces-
sarily adds to bowel troubles. He is further of opinion that the bad state of the
barracks is one of the chief aids to mortality, for the lunatics are otherwise
moderately well off. They are also kept as warm as it is possible for them to
be in wards unprovided with fires. The unsuitability of the buildings has been
again and again recognised. Plans and estimates were prepared for remodelling
them, and sanction was given for the alterations to be commenced towards the