LUNATIC ASYLUM OF BENGAL.
9
14. Statement VIII—Sickness and mortality.—The following table shows
the total number treated and the results for the last two years:—
TABLE VII.
Remained in hospital on 1st January ... ...
Admitted during the year ... ... ...
Total ...
Discharged ... ... ... ...
Died ... ... ... ...
Remaining on 31st December ... ... ...
Total ...
Percentage of admission to average strength ...
Average daily number sick ... ... ...
Percentage of constantly sick to average strength ...
Percentage of deaths to average strength ...
1899.
120
576
696
513
83
100
696
63.79
86.21
9.54
9.63(b)
1900.
100
962
1,062
880
95
87
1,062
107.11
79.01
8.79
10.68(a)
(a) This is inclusive of the one death outside the hospital,
(b) This is inclusive of 4 deaths outside the hospital.
There was a large increase in the admissions to hospitals, and it would
seem that the health of the lunatics suffered considerably in the year under
report. Judging, however, from the fact that the daily average sick and the
percentage of constantly sick were less than in the previous year, it may be
stated that the results of the year were not so unfavourable as they appear.
The increase in the admissions to hospitals where it occurred was much in-
fluenced by the unhealthiness of the towns in which the asylums are situated,
and indicates that a larger number of trifling cases were treated in hospital
for shorter periods. At Dullunda, for instance, the total admissions to hospital
increased by 294, but the daily average sick fell off from 41.21 in 1899 to 36.24
in 1900, and the death-rate from 11.62 per cent. to 11.17. The total mortality
was slightly greater, the death-rate being 10.68 per cent. against 9.63 in the
previous year. The death-rate in the asylums in some of the other Provinces
of India are given below. They refer to the year 1899 as the figures for
1900 are not yet available:—
Bombay ...
Burma ...
Madras ...
10.8
8.33
10.13
Punjab ...
North-Western Provinces ...
Bengal ...
7.97
6.64
10.68 (1900)
At Dullunda, the admissions were greater by 294. Cases of general bad
health were more numerous. Fevers furnished 113 cases against 72 in 1899.
Diarrhœa was also more prevalent, the numbers admitted having been 147
against 3 in the previous year. Dysentery was also more common, viz.,
30 against 16 in 1899. The increase in fevers and bowel-complaints is attri-
buted to the deficient supply of filtered water and to the general unhealthiness
of the year. There was a slight increase under the head of pneumonia.
Cases of phthisis were fewer. There were 3 fatal cases of cholera. The
Superintendent could not point to any definite cause for this outbreak, but
stated that the disease was prevalent in the town. The supply of filtered
water in this asylum was defective, but it has since been remedied. There
was no other epidemic disease.
Dacca had 230 admissions against 121 in the previous year. Fevers
were more common. Dysentery gave 30 admissions against 16 in 1899.
Cases of phthisis increased by 11. Tubercle gave 3 admissions. Bronchitis
furnished 15 cases against 5 in 1899. There was only 1 case of pneumonia
against the same number in the previous year. As regards the increased
admissions the Superintendent says the year was a very sickly one, and the
asylum and jail both suffered. The cyclonic storm at Dacca in September last
caused much sickness. He also says that the great majority of the new
c