( 3 )
orders contained in Government Circular No. 20T.—M., and No. 1036T.—M.,
dated the 9th June 1905.
10. Sickness and mortality.—The admissions to hospitals were in excess
in 1903 over those of the previous year, the figures being 524 and 455, respec-
tively; in 1904 the numbers were less being 494, but the daily average sick rose
from 41.92 in 1903 to 54.53 in 1904; in 1905 there was a large increase, the
figures being 576 with a daily average of 70.01. This increase was chiefly
confined to the Berhampore Asylum where fevers and phthisis were more
common. A large number of lunatics suffering from trivial complaints were
also admitted as a preventive to any serious development of their ailments.
For the same reason the admissions were also greater by 26 at Bhawanipur.
At Patna the admissions went up by 12, fevers, dysentery and phthisis being
more common than in 1904.
The total death-rate was 11.63 per cent. in 1903, 10.06 in 1904 and 9.19 in
1905, an average of 10.29 against 8.63 in the previous triennium. The rate of
mortality in 1905 was less than that obtained in the same year in Madras
(14.64), Punjab (9.38), but greater than that in the United Provinces of Agra
and Oudh (8.75), Burma (7.26) and Bombay (6.). The rate for the Bengal
Asylums in 1905 contrasts favourably with that recorded for the county and
borough Asylums in England where the average of the past ten years ending
1904 was 10.11 per cent. The higher rate in 1903 (11.63), as compared with
1902 (9.03), was chiefly due to there having been 10 deaths from cholera at
Patna and Berhampore against 2 in 1902 in the latter Asylum only. Percen-
tages are misleading where small numbers are dealt with. For instance at
Cuttack the deaths were greater by 3 in 1905 which raised the death-rate from
4.67 in 1904 to 12.79 in 1905, or 173.87 per cent.
Tuberculosis gave 12 deaths in 1903, 16 in 1904 and 19 in 1905. The disease
was most frequent in the Dullunda Asylum now combined with Berhampore,
the conjoined return showing 14 deaths from this cause in 1905. The Superin-
tendent of the Berhampore Asylum reports that a gang of 25 Tuberculosis
patients was transferred from Dullunda in 1905, which is gradually being
reduced by deaths. There were no deaths from cholera in 1905, although
there were three in 1904. There was one solitary death from plague at
Dullunda in 1905. The precautions taken to prevent its progress were success-
ful. It is satisfactory to note that although plague was very prevalent in the
bazar immediately adjoining the Patna Asylum, it did not reach the inmates.
Fevers were the cause of one death in 1903, one in 1904 and 3 in 1905.
The prophylactic issue of quinine and anti-malarial measures at Berhampore
are reported to have had gratifying results.
There were 19 deaths from dysentery and diarrhœa in 1903, 24 in
1904 and 21 in 1905. Dullunda, Berhampore and Patna each had 7 deaths
from dysentery in 1904, against 4, 6 and 2, respectively. in 1903. Thirteen
deaths resulted from pneumonia in 1903, 6 in 1904, and 8 in 1905. Patna
showed a large mortality from this affection viz. 6 in 1903, 2 in 1904 and 6
in 1905. There was one suicidal death at Berhampore in 1905, which will
be referred to again later on.
Statement II
11. Criminal lunatics.—Admissions, including the number re-admitted,
totalled 133 in 1903, 146 in 1904 and 102 in 1905, a
total of 381 with an average of 127 against 316 and
105, respectivly, in the last triennium. The reason for the large decrease in
1905 has already been referred to before. The daily average number, however,
still shows an increase, the figures being 400.89 against 397.33 in 1904. The
total number discharged was 111 in 1903, 94 in 1904 and 75 in 1905, and
the deaths numbered 55, 35 and 37 respectively. Eight lunatics were dis-
charged in 1905 under the rules regarding the disposal of recovered criminal
lunatics.
The attention of the Superintendents was drawn last year to the orders
of Government regarding the release of harmless lunatics. Greater efforts
were made in that year by these officers to find out the whereabouts of the
relatives of the lunatics, and to ascertain whether they were willing to take
charge of them, and several were discharged in 1905 in this way. The difficulty
lies, as one of the Superintendents observes, in tracing out the relatives of the
lunatics.