14
LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF BENGAL.
during the year, the majority of whom were in indifferent and bad health
at the time of admission. The general unhealthiness of the town and district
also affected the health of the old and the weakly. Bowel complaints were more
prevalent in the town and the jail. The inmates of the asylum also suffered,
there having been 7 deaths from dysentery against 1 in the previous year.
The present Superintendent, Lieutenant-Colonel ffrench-Mullen, also remarks
that the great majority of the inmates have to sleep in open verandahs in all
weathers, which renders it extremely difficult to keep the mortality within
moderate limits when climatic conditions happen to be unfavourable. In
regard to this statement, it should be stated that no inconvenience from the
occupation of the verandahs as the sleeping place of the inmates was reported
to this office, and if the lunatics were under this disadvantage, it was the duty
of the Superintendent of the asylum to take immediate steps to remove this
defect. Another statement which the Superintendent makes in connection
with the heavy mortality is that lunatics are not sufficiently clothed. This
is also a matter which is entirely in the hands of the Superintendent to rectify.
It should be remembered that only last year the Superintendent reported that
warm padded coats were issued to the lunatics, with the result that there were
fewer cases of pneumonia and other chest affections. A careful examination
of the death-register submitted by the Superintendent shows, however, that six
deaths occurred among lunatics within six months of their admission, three
occurred within seven months, and one in seven months and 18 days. This
proves the statement that the bad health of the lunatics admitted during
the year contributed largely to the heavy mortality. Three lunatics died
who had been over 25 years in the asylum and 3 more succumbed who were
confined for over 20 years but less than 25 years. Five of the 31 deaths
resulted from pneumonia, 4 from tubercular phthisis, 2 each from anæmia
and debility, 1 fatal case of a rare disease is reported, viz., yellow atrophy of
the liver, 1 death each was due to choleraic diarrhœa, tuberculosis, peritonitis,
spleen disease, orchitis, tubercular synovitis and suppurative arthritis of knee-
joint, and ulcer. Besides these, there were two accidental deaths outside the
hospital, which will be referred to later on. The high death-rates at Dullunda
and Patna justify the proposed abolition of those asylums. There were 2
deaths at Cuttack—1 was a case of suicide and 1 resulted from tuber-
culosis.
Berhampore had 19 deaths, or 5 more than in the previous year. Four of
the 19 resulted from dysentery, 4 from tubercular phthisis, 3 from exhaustion
of mania, 2 from old age, 2 from diarrhœa, and 1 each from anæmia, debility,
serous apoplexy, and pleurisy. The Superintendent states that 13 of the 19
lunatics who died were filthy in their habits, and that it is very difficult to
keep such people alive. Four were old inmates who had been in the asylum for
over 20 years. In all asylums the issue of warm clothing at proper times
should be carefully attended to.
18. Injuries and accidents—Numbered 24 against 17 in the previous year.
At Dullunda a non-criminal lunatic was attacked at night by another inmate in
his cell, and died of hæmorrhage from ruptured liver and portal vein. The
man was found unconscious in the morning and was taken immediately to the
hospital, where he died after two hours. The deceased was weak and emaciated,
and had a fatty liver. The Superintendent says that both the lunaticts were
silent dements, which accounts for the fact that no struggle was heard during the
night. An enquiry was held by the Magistrate who found that none of the
asylum staff were to blame for this occurrence. Another lunatic was struck by
two warders, and his left nasal bone was fractured. Both the warders were
dismissed and their pay forfeited. There were two cases of trivial injuries
inflicted by one lunatic on another. There was one accident. A lunatic
sustained a slight scalp wound while at work with a cart.
At Dacca a criminal lunatic in a sudden impulse of mania inflicted
severe injuries on the head of a fellow-inmate by a rotten piece of wood, causing
his death. The Magistrate held a local enquiry, and found no blame could be
attached to the asylum staff. One lunatic slipped his foot and sprained his
ankle. There was one case of trivial injury inflicted by one lunatic on another.
One case of slight burn is also reported.