20
MOYDAPORE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
[ Part I.
Temporary measure
to arrest overcrowd-
ing.
To obviate overcrowding as far as possible, the reception of lunatics from
Sumbulpore was discontinued, and thus in a great measure is the smallness of
the admissions accounted for.
Sickness.
There was very little sickness and only 45 cases were treated ; of these, 15
were for ague, 5 for dysentery, and 2 for diarrhœa.
Contrast of death-
rate with that of pre-
vious year.
Explanation.
The occurrences of the year forcibly illustrate the fallacy which might
arise from basing deductions upon limited statistics. Notwithstanding the
high mortality of the previous year and the many defects of the asylum, both
of plan and situation, to which this result might have been hastily attributed,
Dr. Cayley rightly surmised that it was accidental, and he pointed out that the
numbers were so small that such variations must almost of necessity sometimes
occur. He in the present report writes :—
In my report of last year I expressed my opinion that the large mortality, 25.2 per cent.
of average strength, that occurred in 1872 was an accidental circumstance, and the events
of this year support that opinion, as, although there has been an equal degree of overcrowding,
only one death has occurred, or 2.04 per cent., and this death was a female. The male barracks
were constantly overcrowded ; the female never nearly full.
Restraint.
Mechanical restraint was not resorted to on any occasion during: the year.
Finances.
The total expenditure of the institution was Rs. 4,957 or Rs. 100-10-5
per head of population. The dieting per man cost Rs. 27-11-8 against
Rs. 31-8-7 in 1872, although there was an increase in the dieting.
Inspection.
This asylum was inspected by Deputy Surgeon-General H. B. Buckle, C. B.,
on December 29th. The inspection was in every respect satisfactory. The
inmates were well and kindly cared for, and there was a look of content and
even happiness amongst them.
MOYDAPORE ASYLUM.
Charge.
This asylum was successively under the charge of Surgeon-Major
J. Coates, M. D., and Surgeon-Major S. M. Shircore, the latter of whom took
charge on April 4th.
Statistics.
The population is increasing as it is at almost all the other asylums. The
number of admissions was 41, or 2 less than in 1872, and the percentage of
admissions to strength has therefore diminished from 97.7 to 68.4. Recoveries
were numerous and the death-rate low. The asylum was very healthy
throughout the year.
STATEMENT NO. XVII.
YEAR.
1868 ... ...
1869 ... ...
1870 ... ...
1871 ... ...
1872
...
...
Average ...
1873
...
...
Daily average
strength.
9
13
21
26
44
23
59.9
PER CENT. OF AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Admitted.
......
107.7
90.5
73.1
97.7
74.
68.4
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
......
15.3
33.3
34.6
25.
21.6
30.1
Improved.
......
......
9.5
......
9.1
3.7
13.4
Otherwise.
11.1
7.6
4.8
......
......
4.7
1.6
Deaths.
......
7.6
33.3
......
6.8
9.5
6.7
Total
discharges
and
deaths.
11.1
30.5
80.9
34.6
40.9
39.6
51.7
Sickness.
The daily average number of sick was 2.25 against 1.70 for 1872, and the
average of sick to strength also increased "but in reality there was not
more sickness, the increase shown in the returns being attributable to deten-
tion in hospital of two chronic cases, one of paralysis and the other of epilepsy,
for unusually long periods; in fact, one of them was on the register of sick
throughout the year." There were 34 cases treated during the year, and of
these 19 were of intermittent fever, two of epilepsy, and two dyspepsia.
Dr. Shircore advocates the plan of treating sick lunatics in their own cells,
which does away with the necessity of having a hospital at all.
Employments.
The average number of males was 46.82, of whom 46.45 were constantly
employed; and the average number of females was 13.13, of whom 12.58 were