10
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
In the Dacca Jail anæmia and debility increased slightly. In the asylum
they decreased. Cholera was absent from both jail and asylum. Diarrhœa and
dysentery increased largely in the jail, but did not vary in the asylum. Fevers
increased in both jail and asylum. Pneumonia did not vary greatly in the jail,
but increased in the asylum. Phthisis was almost absent from the jail, and
appeared in ordinary quantity in the asylum.
At Patna anæmia and debility were nominal in the jail, and fell largely
in the asylum. Cholera was absent from jail and asylum alike. Diarrhœa and
dysentery decreased in both places largely. Fevers increased in both, most
largely in the asylum. Pneumonia was insignificant. Phthisis was nominal
in the jail and very prevalent in the asylum.
At Cuttack the numbers are too small to repay detailed comparison. The
increase of dysentery in the asylum was fully represented in the jail.
At Berhampore, anæmia find debility fell largely in the jail, but not in
the asylum. Cholera showed some prevalence in the jail, but was absent from
the asylum. Diarrhœa and dysentery showed marked reduction in both
places, and the same is true of fevers. There was no pneumonia in either
place. Phthisis varied little in the jail, and there was a single case in the
asylum.
The foregoing statement is not unfavourable to the asylums on the whole.
TABLE No. 12.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
Abscess
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ague ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Anæmia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Apoplexy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Bronchitis
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Debility
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dropsy ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Dysentery
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Erysepelas ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Exhaustion of mania ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Injury—fracture of the vault of the skull
...
...
Old age ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Paralysis
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Remittent fever ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Scrofula ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Softening of the brain (white)
...
...
...
...
Spleen ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Synovitis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Tetanus ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Dullunda.
1
......
5
......
1
1
......
......
6
1
2
1
2
......
7
......
1
1
......
3
1
......
33
Dacca.
......
......
......
1
......
......
3
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
3
1
1
......
......
......
......
1
10
Patna.
......
2
......
......
......
......
4
......
5
......
......
......
......
1
16
......
1
......
......
1
......
......
30
Cuttack.
......
......
......
......
1
......
......
......
......
......
1
1
1
1
......
......
......
1
......
......
......
6
Berhampore.
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
1
2
......
......
......
1
......
1
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
5
TOTAL.
1
2
5
1
1
2
7
1
13
1
2
2
4
2
28
1
3
1
1
4
1
1
84
22. Mortality.—The total number of deaths in 1881 fell to 84 from 109
in 1880, and 131 in 1879. The number is the lowest in the decade, except
that of 1877. The death-rate reckoned on mean daily numbers fell from 12.3
in 1880 to 9.6 in 1881. This was equalled in 1876 and 1878, and surpassed in
1877. This general statement presents no points for explanation or detailed
comment. All the remarks that are necessary will be found in the paragraphs
which treat of sickness. I append nevertheless a statement obtained from the
office of the Sanitary Commissioner, for such comparison as it may afford
between the public death-rates of the neighbourhoods and those of the asylums.
TABLE No. 13.
Statement of deaths in 1880 and 1881.
NAME OF
LOCALITY.
Calcutta ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore ...
Population.
433,219
69,212
158,900
50,878
27,289
Fever.
1880.
3,797
740
1,972
251
333
1881.
3,765
915
2,734
230
602
Bowel complaints.
1880.
1,267
223
807
205
50
1881.
1,491
385
1,118
211
38
Cholera.
1880.
805
15
59
34
19
1881.
1,693
85
202
87
16
Total deaths from
all causes.
1880.
11,681
1,641
4,399
1,135
426
1881.
13,030
2,156
5,732
938
734
Ratio per 1,000 of
population.
1880.
27.15
23.7
27.68
22.3
15.61
1881.
30.07
31.15
36.07
18.43
26.89
23. In Calcutta there was no change in mortality from fever. The
decrease in asylum mortality was due rather to accidental increase in 1880.