( 3 )
In commenting on intoxication as a prevalent cause of insanity, the
Surgeon-General makes the following appropriate remarks:—"I have said
before that occurrences in the asylums show that the statements on this
point are below—I might say very much below—the truth, and that on the
other hand resort to intoxication is sometimes assigned as the cause of a derange-
ment of which it is only an early result. There were in all 76 admissions
from ganja and bhang in 1883, and only 34 recoveries. If the cases were
rightly ascribed, the proportion was small, and again proves that, with increased
admissions, there was no increase of cases of mere temporary intoxication
among them."
6. There has been a gradual and satisfactory improvement in the health
of the lunatics during the last few years, and this was especially marked
in 1883. The admissions into hospital numbered only 235 against 394 in
1882 and 385 in 1881. The following table shows the prevalence of the
principal diseases in the year under report:—
Anæmia and debility
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
...
Dropsy ... ... ... ...
Dysentery ... ... ... ...
Fevers
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia
...
...
...
...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
Cholera ... ... ... ...
Dullunda.
1882.
6
1
......
7
3
1
3
2
1883.
3
1
1
6
2
1
5
2
Dacca.
1882.
4
19
......
21
22
4
6
8
1883.
3
12
......
9
16
1
10
......
Patna.
1882.
14
16
1
36
47
......
10
5
1883.
17
11
......
12
8
......
10
2
Cuttack.
1882.
2
......
......
2
4
3
......
1883.
2
3
......
2
5
......
......
......
Berhampore.
1882.
14
9
4
16
32
2
1
......
1883.
11
7
2
5
15
2
1
......
Total.
1882.
40
45
5
82
108
7
23
15
1883.
36
34
3
34
46
4
26
4
There was no increase in the number of cases of anæmia and debility
except at Patna, where the number rose from 14 to 17. Diarrhœa, dysentery
and fevers fell considerably on the whole, while there was no material variation
in pulmonary disease. Cholera re-appeared at Dullunda and Patna. There
were two cases in the latter asylum, both of which proved fatal. No
fault was found with the drinking-water which is supplied from the best
well in the neighbourhood and passed through a standard filter, but the water
used for bathing should, as suggested by the Surgeon-General, be examined.
The supply of water for the shower-baths in the Dullunda Asylum again
failed during the year, and the inmates had to use tank-water for bathing
purposes. Arrangements have, however, been made since the close of the
year to improve the water-supply in this asylum. It is satisfactory to observe the
absence of cholera and the reduction of dysentery, diarrhœa, and fever at
Dacca, following immediately on the introduction of filtered-water into that
Asylum. At Berhampore, the absence of dysentery, which had been largely
prevalent, was remarkable. Cases of accident and injury occurred at Dullunda,
Dacca and Patna. At Dullunda, a violent epileptic ruptured his spleen during
a fit and died. The other cases were few in number and of comparatively
little importance.
7. The general improvement in the health of the lunatics was accom-
panied, as might have been anticipated, by a reduction in mortality. The
deaths numbered only 52, which is the smallest number on record, the corre-
sponding figures in 1880, 1881, and 1882 being 109, 84, and 87 respectively. The
largest number of deaths—thirteen—was from phthisis. The number of deaths
from cholera was 2 out of 4 persons attacked. There were 6 deaths from
apoplexy, 5 from diarrhœa, 4 from dysentery, and 3 from fevers. The total
number of deaths from all causes was at Dullunda 12, at Dacca 13, at Patna 15,
at Cuttack 3, and at Berhampore 9. The marked decrease in the mortality
from zymotic disease testifies to the efficiency of the sanitary arrangements in
the asylums.