24
LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
There is a very general agreement between the statements contained in paragraphs
11, 12, and 13, and those recorded in previous years.
Sickness and
mortality.
14. The total number treated in hospital during the year was (males 73, females 16)
89, or at the rate of (males 43.80, females 26.66) 39.27 per cent. of mean strength. The
daily average number of sick was (males 15.71, females 4.48) 20.19, or at the rate of
(males 9.42, females 7.46) 8.90 per cent. of mean strength; and the mortality was at the rate
of (males 6.60, females 8.33) 7.06 per cent. of mean strength. The sick rate was less than
that in either 1875 or 1874, and the mortality (calculated on mean strength), though
slightly higher than it was in 1875, was less by nearly 4 per cent. than the average of the
preceding decennial period. The following table exhibits the principal causes of sickness
and mortality amongst the male and female insane patients respectively, as well as the
proportion which each contributed to the general total:—
MALES.
DSIEASES.
Diarrhœa ... ...
Remittent fever ...
Phthisis
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
Debility
...
...
Anæmia and spleen ...
Epilepsy
...
...
Other diseases ...
Number of cases treated.
15
14
9
8
7
5
3
12
Per cent. of total cases
treated.
20.5
19.2
12.3
11
9.5
6.8
4.1
16.4
Died.
...
1
6
...
...
1
1
2
DEATHS.
Per cent. of
treated.
...
7.1
66.7
...
...
20
33.3
16.66
Per cent. of total
deaths.
...
9.1
54.5
...
...
9.09
9.1
18.18
Per cent. of mean
strength.
...
.6
3.6
...
...
.6
.6
1.2
FEMALES.
DISEASES.
Phthisis
...
...
Bronchitis ... ...
Remittent fever ...
Diarrhœa
...
...
Epilepsy
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
Other diseases ...
Number of cases treated
5
2
2
2
1
1
3
Per cent. of total cases
treated.
31.3
12.5
12.5
12.5
6.2
6.2
18.7
Died.
3
...
...
...
1
1
...
DEATHS.
Per cent. of
treated.
60
...
...
...
100
100
...
Per cent. of total
deaths.
60
...
...
...
20
20
...
Per cent. of mean
strength.
5
...
...
...
1.7
1.7
...
Diseases causing
sickness, &c.
Large proportion
of deaths caused by
phthisis.
It will be gathered from the foregoing table that, amongst the male patients, diarrhoea,
remittent fever, phthisis, dysentery, debility, &c., caused the greatest amount of sickness,
while phthisis, remittent fever, and epilepsy, were accountable for the greatest proportion of
the total mortality. Amongst the female patients, phthisis, bronchitis, remittent fever,
diarrhœa, &c., were the chief causes of sickness, but the mortality was confined altogether to
phthisis, epilepsy, and dysentery. Attention, no doubt, will be attracted by the large propor-
tion which phthisis contributed to the total mortality of the male and female insanes, amount-
ing to upwards of 54 per cent. of the former and 60 per cent. of the latter. No explanation
has been offered as to the unusual prevalence of phthisis in this asylum, nor, in the absence
of overcrowding, is it easy to account for it. So much, however, is known, that the insane
are more liable than the sane to various diseases, and succumb more easily to their attacks :
it has also been noticed that the lungs are diseased in a large proportion of the cases of
insanity which prove fatal, and that of such diseases phthisis may be considered as one of
the principal.
Escape-
15. One male (non-criminal) made his escape from the asylum. He had been reported
as sane, and was only awaiting the orders of the visitors for his discharge.
Cost per patient.
16. The annual cost of each patient is shown to have been Rs. 87-5-3. The superin-
tendent reports that there was an increase in the expenditure caused by the higher rate
of pay drawn for the hospital assistant on promotion, and by the annual increment to the
writer's salary. The expenses incurred on the transfer of 60 lunatics to Hazareebagh had, it
is stated, also helped to swell the amount.
In the following table the several items of expenditure are shown, as well as the annual
cost per patient under each head:—
Etablishment ... ... ... ... ... ...
Diet
...
...
...
...
...
...
Clothing
...
...
...
...
...
...
Bazar medicines
...
...
...
...
...
...
Contingencies
...
...
...
...
...
...
Total
Rs.
8,691
8,410
1,545
24
1,123
19,795
A.
2
4
14
8
8
5
P.
1
9½
0
0
10
8½
Per Patient.
Rs.
38
37
6
0
4
87
A.
5
1
13
1
15
5
P.
7
8
1
8
3
3
Improvements.
17. Dr Simpson reports that a new loom, after an English pattern, was made on the
premises, and that a shed was also built near the asylum gate for the sale of castor-oil to the
public. He also states that every insane, both male and female, has been provided with a
warm blanket jacket for winter use.
Manufactures.
18. It appears that the average daily number of patients employed in the manufac-
turing department was (males 144.22, females 50.85) 194.57, or 86 per cent. of the mean
population. The manufactures of the male patients consist chiefly of castor and mustard oils,
blankets, dosootee cloth, table covers, and suttrinjees. The females were employed in husking