8
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
18. Sickness.—The health of the inmates was singularly good in 1883,
in all the asylums. Particulars concerning the several asylums will be found
in statement No. VIII. The entries in the above table are very favourable to
the general condition of the people. Admissions into hospital numbered only
235 against 394 in 1882 and 385 in 1881. At Dullunda and Cuttack numbers
were small in all the years, and varied little, but in the other asylums there was
a large fall in 1883. The rate per cent. of admissions to mean strength
followed the reduction necessarily. The average daily number of sick rose
at Dullunda, Dacca, and Cuttack, and fell slightly at Patna and Berhampore.
This shows that the cases received into hospital, though much fewer in number,
remained longer under treatment than in the previous year. The daily number
of out-patients increased slightly on the whole, but this is quite unimportant:—
TABLE No. 10.
Showing the prevalence of principal diseases in 1882 and 1883.
Anæmia and debility
...
...
Diarrhœa
...
...
...
...
Dropsy
...
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
...
Fevers
...
...
...
...
Pneumonia
...
...
...
...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
Dullunda.
1882.
6
1
......
7
3
1
3
2
1883.
3
1
1
6
2
1
5
2
Dacca.
1882.
4
19
......
21
22
4
6
8
1883.
3
12
......
9
16
1
10
......
Patna.
1882.
14
16
1
36
47
......
10
5
1883.
17
11
......
12
8
......
10
2
Cuttack.
1882.
2
......
......
2
4
......
3
......
1883.
2
3
......
2
5
......
......
......
Berhampore.
1882.
14
9
4
16
32
2
1
......
1883.
11
7
2
5
15
2
1
......
Total.
1882.
40
45
5
82
108
7
23
15
1883.
36
34
3
34
46
4
26
4
19. Anæmia and debility showed some increase at Patna, but fell at
Dullunda, Dacca, and Berhampore. Diarrhœa fell considerably on the whole,
and dysentery underwent remarkable reduction in the asylums most concerned,
viz., Dacca, Patna, and Berhampore. Fevers followed the same course. In
pulmonary disease there was, on the whole, no variation nor any such
quantity as to call for special remark. Cholera was again present at Dullunda.
Much complaint has been made of the failure of the supply of bathing water
here and of the resort to tanks which has been inevitable. The Superintendent
has been directed to submit a formal application at once, that the existing state of
things be rectified. The absence of cholera from the Dacca Asylum, as following
immediately on the introduction of filtered water, and as accompained by
reduction of dysentery and diarrhœa, has a satisfactory appearance. The state of
things, however, was not better in 1883 than in 1881 and 1880. Continuance
of exemption must be secured before a relation of cause and effect can be
established. The jail was free from cholera in. 1883, and its water supply had
been similarly improved, but the jail also escaped in 1881. The jail gained
nothing in 1883 in respect of bowel disorders, from which deaths were much
more numerous than in the previous year. The disappearance of fever from
the Dacca Asylum is remarkable. In 1875 and 1876 the cases recorded were
128 and 114. At Patna there was an extraordinary absence of fevers, and
bowel disorders showed satisfactory decrease. There were, however, two cases
of cholera. The local authorities believe the drinking water to be good. It is
supplied from the best well in the neighbourhood, and passed through a
standard filter. Cholera was present in the jail. The water used for bathing
will be examined, as nothing is said of it in the report. At Cuttack, nothing
occurred which calls for remark in this place. At Berhampore there was
remarkable freedom from the dysentery which has been prevalent there
hitherto. Fevers fell to the quantity of 1881. Filtered water was in use
throughout the year. There was great decrease of bowel disorders and some
decrease of fever in the Berhampore Jail in 1883, but there were some cases of
cholera. The total sickness in jail was greater than in 1882, but the mortality
smaller. For facility of future reference the following table appears in its
place:—