6
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
But the Hazaribagh Asylum cannot be excluded, for its inmates have exist-
ed in other asylums and raised their sick lists. Comparision of total with
total in the several years is therefore proper, and it gives only 510 admis-
sions in 1879, against 739 in 1878, and 818 in 1877. This would seem
to show that the health of the Hazaribagh lunatics had improved after their
removal. It is probable that during the existence of the Hazaribagh Asylum in
1879 its sick list was a long one, for nine deaths took place in the three months,
and the lunatics, transferred, reached their destinations in very poor condition.
The ratio per cent. of daily sick to mean strength was greater than in 1878 in the
Dullunda, Patna, and Berhampore Asylums, less at Dacca, and somewhat less
at Cuttack.
STATEMENT No. 8.
Admissions into hospital
... ... ... ... ...
Ditto per cent. of mean strength
... ... ...
Daily average sick
...
...
...
...
...
Ditto
in 1878
...
...
...
...
...
Ditto
per cent. of mean strength
...
...
Ditto
ditto
in 1878
...
...
Dullunda.
69
31.31
6.63
3.15
3.05
1.54
Dacca.
120
61.19
8.70
16.07
4.43
8.17
Patna.
170
74.45
14.75
11.81
6.46
5.83
Cuttack.
35
68.22
1.20
1.84
2.33
3.84
Berhampore.
116
58.85
7.38
5.74
3.74
2.97
TOTAL.
510
57.30
38.66
38.61
4.34
4.57
The following statement shows the prevalence of some principal diseases
in 1879:—
STATEMENT No. 9.
Anæmia and debility
... ... ... ... ... ...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dropsy
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Fevers
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dullunda.
8
......
5
......
10
2
3
16
Dacca.
9
......
18
2
10
32
3
5
Patna.
40
7
24
4
36
42
......
3
Cuttack.
2
2
3
......
3
23
......
......
Berhampore.
1
2
8
3
32
70
1
......
TOTAL.
60
11
58
9
91
169
7
24
Fevers were again only nominal at Dullunda, but here slight ephemeral
fevers are not recorded: as out-patients of the hospital they remain on a separate
list. At Dacca there was less fever than in 1878 ; at Patna about the same in
the two years; at Cuttack considerable excess in 1879 ; and at Berhampore large
reduction. Anæmia showed the same quantity at Dullunda, excess at Dacca,
and large excess at Patna. Diarrhœa and dysentery were in excess of 1878 at
Dullunda, greatly reduced at Dacca, largely increased at Patna, decreased
at Cuttack and Berhampore. Cholera was absent from Dullunda and Dacca,
though it prevailed in institutions neighbouring the former place, even in the
Presidency jail: the Dacca jail was exempt. At Patna there were seven cases
with six deaths. Dr. French in a separate report observes:—" The first two cases
were isolated ones, with a long interval between them. The last five belonged
to the July epidemic of cholera, which raged all over the station and district."
At Cuttack two cases occurred. The disease was prevalent in the neigh-
bourhood. At Berhampore there were the same number of cases.
16. Injuries.—The return of injuries to lunatics shows a very satisfactory
reduction of numbers. These had been numerous in the Hazaribagh and
Dacca Asylums. The former has disappeared, though its inmates have con-
tinued to exist elsewhere. Attention drawn to the occurrences in the Dacca
Asylum by my predecessor has led to great improvement in this respect. An
unfortunate case occurred in which a cook, meeting the challenge of a patient
to wrestle in sport, threw him and dislocated his neck. The man died, and the
cook was sentenced to one year's rigorous imprisonment. A keeper was also
seriously, but not fatally, injured by a lunatic. Dr. Crombie can point with
just satisfaction to the following figures:—
Injuries by patients—
1877 ... ... ... ...
1878
...
...
...
...
1879
...
...
...
...
13
14
1 and 1 keeper, and one
patient killed as above by a keeper.