Part I. ]
CUTTACK LUNATIC ASYLUM.
19
Sickness.
Mortality.
No epidemic occurred during the year, but owing to the unusually large
proportion of persons who were in a bad state of health when admitted, the
number remaining sick at the end of the year was considerably in excess of
those who remained from the previous year. As stated, the mortality was
unusually high for the Patna asylum, which has always maintained a high
standard of health. On this point Dr. Simpson writes as follows :—
During the past year 27 deaths, including three criminals, occurred; of these, 15 were
admitted in very bad or indifferent health. Although the actual number of deaths last year is
considerably in excess of 1872, the ratio per cent. of deaths to "total treated," "daily average
strength," and " admission" is below the average of the 10 years. Fever and general debility,
usually terminating in diarrhœa, formed the principal causes of the mortality. Three cases of
sudden death were recorded, one of epilepsy, another of apoplexy, the third being a case of
suicide by drowning.
Restraint.
In all there were 27 deaths ; 7 are attributed to debility, 6 to diarrhœa,
5 to remittent fever and 3 to dysentery. Dr. Simpson has observed that a large
proportion of those sufferring from diarrhœa are addicted to eating earth,
and that much vigilance was needed to check the habit. Mechanical restraint
was not employed in any case during the year.
Buildings.
Various minor improvements were made in the out-offices, but no large
building operations were undertaken.
Finances.
The total expenditure amounted to Rs. 19,412, and the cost of each patient
to a little over Rs. 72.
Management.
The Surgeon-General records his opinion that the asylum is ably and
carefully superintended, and the comfort and treatment of the lunatics
thoughtfully considered.
CUTTACK ASYLUM.
Charge.
This asylum was under the charge of Surgeon-Major H. Cayley during
the year.
Statistics.
The admissions were below the average of previous years, the total being
only 16, and there were no re-admissions. The number of recoveries was about
the average, and there was only one death, the death-rate being thus only 2.03 per
cent. of strength, the lowest rate in the Presidency. Criminals constitute 24
per cent. of the asylum inmates. The daily average sick was 2.39.
STATEMENT No. XVI.
YEARS.
1868 ... ... ...
1869 ... ... ...
1870 ... ... ...
1871 ... ... ...
1872 ... ... ...
Average ...
1873 ... ... ...
Daily
average
strength.
36
36
38
44
51
41
49.2
PER CENT. OF AVERAGE STRENGTH.
Admitted.
47.2
58.3
57.9
88.6
27.4
55.9
32.5
DISCHARGED.
Cured.
22.2
11.1
44.7
27.2
9.8
23.
22.3
Improved.
8.3
8.4
13.1
6.8
1.9
7.7
...
Otherwise.
...
2.7
23.7*
...
1.9
5.7
...
Deaths.
11.1
8.4
5.2
9.1
25.6
11.9
2.03
Total dis-
charges and
deaths.
41.6
30.6
86.7
43.1
39.2
48.2
24.4
* Transfers to Dullunda
Overcrowding.
The asylum continued to be overcrowded, but the defect was confined
to the male wards, in which there is accommodation for 31 men, while the daily
average male population was 40.5. The female side can accommodate 13
women, and the daily strength was only 8.7.
New asylum.
It having become apparent that the present asylum is too small to meet
the requirements of the population, it is in contemplation to construct a new
asylum near the Jobra irrigation workshops to accommodate from 80 to 100
patients. Dr. Cayley approves of the site selected, which, however, has one objec-
tion, viz., " that it is in great part a barren, sandy plain, and the difficulty and
expense of getting up a garden will be very great, gardening being the most
suitable, and often the only practicable, employment for the majority of lunatics.
The building of this new asylum was sanctioned in September by Government.