LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
9
with five deaths, which accounted for none in the two previous years. Dysentery
and diarrhœa showed marked increase, as did fever. Dr. French writes
regarding the mortality at Patna:—" Of these 35 cases only five were in good
health on admission into the asylum, one was in fair health, in one the state
of health on admission was not recorded, eleven were in a weak state, and
seventeen were actually sick or in bad health.
21. In the Berhampore Asylum, 22 deaths occurred in 1879, against 16
in 1878, and 14 in 1877. Pulmonary disease contributes little to the list.
Diarrhœa and dysentery are in some excess over 1878 and in large excess
over 1877. Dr. Shircore remarks on an increase in his number of daily sick,
that " it was due entirely to the miserable condition in which the 32 men,
received from the Hazaribagh Asylum, arrived. Most of these men had to be
removed to hospital within three days of their arrival, and remained there till
nearly the end of the year. * * * * Of the total 22 deaths, ten were among
the 32 Hazaribagh men."
22. At Cuttack the general health of the inmates was good and the deaths
few in number.
23. The next statement shows the duration of confinement and of sickness
in the fatal cases. Its value is small, as the duration of sickness is that only
of the last sickness. The table does not set forth the effect on the mortality
figures of those numerous persons who are ill on admission but recover for a
time, and, after passing through a long period of recurring illness, finally sink.
STATEMENT No. 11.
DISEASE AND CAUSE OF DEATH.
Ague, cake and liver
... ... ... ...
Anœmia
... ... ... ... ...
Apoplexy
... ... ... ... ...
Ascites
... ... ... ... ...
Asthma
... ... ... ... ...
Bronchitis
.
.
. ... ... ... ...
Cholera
.
.
. ... ... ... ...
Cirrhosis of liver ... ... ... ... ...
Cut-throat ... ... ... ... ...
Debility
...
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
... ... ... ... ...
Diseases of the brain
...
...
...
...
Dislocation of neck
... ... ... ...
Dropsy
... ... ... ... ...
Dysentery
... ... ...
...
...
Emphysema
... ... ... ... ...
Epilepsy
... ... ... ... ...
Exhaustion of mania ...
...
...
...
Enteritis
... ... ... ... ...
Fever
... ... ... ... ...
Leprosy
... ... ... ... ...
Nervous exhaustion
... ... ... ...
Paralysis
... ... ... ... ...
Pleurisy
... ... ... ... ...
Pneumonia
... ... ... ... ...
Phthisis
... ... ... ... ...
Tuberculosis
...
...
...
...
...
Total ...
DURATION OF CONFINEMENT.
Under one month.
...
...
1
...
...
...
1
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
6
Under two months.
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
Under three months.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
Under four months.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
2
Under five months.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Under six months.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
2
Total.
...
...
2
...
...
...
1
...
1
1
...
...
...
1
4
...
...
...
...
1
...
1
...
...
1
2
...
15
DURATION OF DISEASE.
Under one month.
...
1
2
...
1
1
7
1
1
3
6
...
1
1
8
1
2
3
1
5
...
2
...
1
4
6
...
58
Under two months.
...
1
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
3
3
...
...
...
7
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
1
...
...
4
...
22
Under three months.
1
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
...
1
2
1
...
2
1
...
1
...
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
2
1
15
Under four months.
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
...
...
1
1
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
5
Under five months.
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
3
...
...
...
...
...
2
...
...
...
...
2
...
8
Under six months.
...
1
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1
2
...
...
1
2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
7
Total.
1
5
2
3
1
1
7
1
1
8
14
1
1
5
22
2
3
3
1
8
2
2
1
1
4
14
1
115
24. General management.—In the general management of the asylums there
has been no change in 1879, except in the case of Dacca, where Dr. Crombie
established a separate ward for lunatics during dangerous excitement with the
object of preventing acts of violence and consequent injuries. He reports this
measure to have been very successful.
25. With regard to accidents and injuries, it is of course admitted that
they cannot be altogether avoided in asylums. The liability is indeed
greatest where there is least of restraint and coercion, and is increased
by the very measures which conduce most to the welfare of the general body
of lunatics. Accidents and injuries happen everywhere in workshops, and no
asylum officer can at any time be free from apprehension of them, for hair-
breadth escapes are constantly reminding them of danger : but no one would on
this account relinquish the great advantages of industrial employment. The