LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
11
to the total mortality. For sake of comparison, the corresponding statistics of 1875 are also
shown:—
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
Dacca
...
Patna
...
Cuttack
...
Moydapore
...
Berhampore
...
Hazareebagh
...
Years.
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876 ...
1875 ...
1876...
1875...
1876 ...
1875...
1876...
1875...
1876...
Deaths per cent.
of mean strength.
Males.
13.39
10.54
11.05
11.22
7.42
6.60
3.65
16.75
6.36
7.40
9.74
8.04
......
8.82
Females.
24.00
13.78
33.66
21.31
2
8.33
......
28.57
16.62
7.60
3.67
......
......
......
Total.
15.82
11.35
15.62
13.04
6.35
7.06
3.21
18.11
9.2
7.4
7.98
5.49
8.82
DEATHS PER CENT. OF TOTAL MORTALITY.
Dysentery.
Males.
34.37
34.78
9.09
31.57
13.33
......
50
......
33.33
66.66
23.07
20
......
......
Females.
17.64
40.00
5.88
12.50
......
20
......
50
33.33
......
......
......
......
......
Diarrhœa.
Males.
......
......
9.09
10.52
13.33
......
......
55.6
......
......
38.46
10
......
38.88
Females.
5.88
......
17.64
25
......
......
......
50
33.33
......
......
......
......
......
Phthisis.
Males.
15.62
39.13
40.90
10.52
20
54.5
......
......
33.33
......
......
......
......
......
Females.
17.64
20.0
17.64
12.50
100
60
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
Brain disease.
Males.
12.50
17.39
9.09
5.26
13.33
9.09
......
11.1
......
......
7.69
10
......
......
Females.
11.76
10
5.88
......
......
20
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
Cholera.
Males.
6.25
......
4.54
5.26
6.66
......
......
......
......
......
7.69
20
......
......
Females.
23.52
......
23.52
12.50
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
Debility.
Males.
......
......
......
15.78
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
11.11
Females.
......
......
......
25
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
Mortality in
Cuttack Asylum.
37. From the foregoing table it appears that the highest death rate during 1876 was
in the Cuttack Asylum, and that diarrhœa was the cause of more than half the mortality
of the males, while the mortality of the females was due altogether to dysentery and
diarrhœa. It will, no doubt, also be noticed what an increase there has been in the death-
rate as compared with 1875, in which year the mortuary statistics of the Cuttack Asylum
were the most favourable of any in the province. Surgeon Stewart, in paragraph 11 of the
report, considers that the high rate of mortality may have been partly caused by overcrowd-
ing (the males were overcrowded by 21) and partly by the weakly and aged condition of some
of the insanes.
Mortality in the
Dacca Asylum.
38. The Dacca Asylum shows the next highest death-rate, but it is notwithstanding
satisfactory to observe that it was 5 per cent. lower than that of the average of the five
preceding years, and that the death-rate of the females had fallen from 33.66 per cent.
in 1875 to 21.31 in 1876. In this asylum bowel-complaints and phthisis have caused more
than half the mortality of the males, while the same diseases, along with cholera, caused
nearly two-thirds of that of the females. Last year I drew attention to what was considered
to be the excessive ventilation and coldness during the rains and cold weather of the cells
occupied by the female insanes; but the Superintendent has made no allusion to these points
in his present report. The males were, on the average overcrowded by 42, vide paragraph 16 ;
and I consider it probable that the sanitary condition of the asylum, in connection with those
subjects that I have enumerated in paragraph 31, requires still more careful attention to be
bestowed on it.
Mortality in the
Dullunda
Asylum.
39. Dullunda Asylum comes next in regard to death-rate, which is still high, but
lower by nearly 2 per cent. than that which was the average of the preceding quinquennial
period. The death-rate of the males was less by nearly 3 per cent. than it was in 1875, while
that of the females had been reduced by 10 per cent. Notwithstanding the sanitary improve-
ments mentioned by the Superintendent in paragraph 13 of the report, it will be noticed in
the preceding table that dysentery has caused more than one-third of the total mortality of
the male patients, and formed besides a fractionally higher proportion of their total morta-
lity than it did in 1875. Dysentery also caused 40 per cent. of the total female mortality,
against 17.64 in 1875. Phthisis had caused upwards of 39 per cent. of the total mortality
of the male lunatics, against 15.62 per cent. in 1875, and 20 per cent. of that of the females,
against 18 per cent. in 1875. There was also, as compared with 1875, an increase of nearly
5 per cent. in the proportion from brain diseases to the total mortality. The females in this
asylum were, on the average, overcrowded by 25.
No special remarks
required on the
remaining
asylums.
40. In the remaining institutions there does not appear to be anything that calls for
special comment, except that in all of them bowel-complaints caused a considerable portion
of the total mortality.
C 2