LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
9
Dr. Bird, considering the water to be good, returned to the use of it. From
August last Dr. Shaw obtained from outside a supply of the best water pro-
curable. At Berhampore the Superintendent reports that he effected much
improvement in the water-supply without waiting for his filter. The distribu-
tion of bowel diseases during the several months of the year here indicates
success of the measures adopted, and promises well at Berhampore, but not at
Patna. There is at present, however, no more than indication, for the same
disorders were less prevalent in the jails of both places in 1881.
The course of dysentery in 1881 was generally favourable. The number of
cases at the Presidency, though not large, was not satisfactorily small. The
supply of water for bathing has of late, during the dry months, been insufficient
to admit of the shower bath being fully utilised, and tank-bathing has been
unavoidable.
Fevers and their consequences did not prevail at the Presidency or at
Berhampore, but at Dacca they showed some increase, and more at Patna. This
is readily explained, at least in the latter case, by the state of the public health.
Pneumonia shewed itself principally at Dacca, but it was not very fatal.
Phthisis shows in the aggregate a small increase. At Dullunda the disease
fell to an ordinary quantity, from the larger quantities of the two previous
years. At Dacca the quantity was ordinary. At Patna there was large increase,
and at Cuttack and Berhampore the quantity, though small, was moving upwards.
The prevalence of this disease was very fully discussed in the last report.
The anticipation of increase in the Patna Asylum has been fulfilled. An
important point in the argument was the importation of phthisis from Hazari-
bagh. The influence of this has now ceased to be felt at the Presidency, but
not altogether at Patna. The number of cases here was too large to be
considered normal, even though all that occurred were now for the first time
recorded. Their origin has been examined with the following result. Of the
21 cases, two came from Hazaribagh, one other was admitted with confirmed
phthisis, 12 with incipient phthisis. The rest appeared to be in fair health
on admission.
21. The following statement shews the prevalence of the above-mentioned
disorders in the jails adjacent to the asylums:—
TABLE No. 11.
DISEASES.
Anæmia and debility ...
Cholera
...
... ...
Diarrhœa and dysentery ...
Fevers
... ... ...
Pneumonia ... ...
...
Phthisis
... ... ...
Other diseases
... ...
Total ...
Daily average strength ...
Daily average sick ...
...
PRESIDENCY JAIL.
1880.
Total treated.
28
5
461
995
24
11
1,050
2,574
Died.
3
4
8
2
2
7
14
40
1,262
69
1881.
Total treated.
33
1
307
907
8
4
810
2,070
Died.
1
1
7
2
2
2
11
26
1,146.99
51.19
ALIPORE JAIL.
1880.
Total treated.
129
2
1,176
1,251
74
26
2,083
4,741
Died.
4
...
66
5
27
12
16
130
1,996
138
1881.
Total treated.
99
8
1,176
1,300
40
23
1,290
3,936
Died.
8
4
53
8
15
14
15
117
1,999.14
110.63
DACCA JAIL.
1880.
Total treated.
12
3
197
309
7
5
326
859
Died.
2
1
7
4
2
3
6
25
630
21
1881.
Total treated.
17
...
391
374
9
1
281
1,073
Died.
...
...
5
4
4
...
3
16
723.55
30.44
PATNA JAIL.
1880.
Total treated.
5
...
161
75
2
...
42
285
Died.
4
...
14
...
1
...
1
20
242
8
1881.
Total treated.
1
...
125
109
...
1
34
270
Died.
...
...
3
2
... 1
3
9
221.97
6.34
CUTTACK JAIL.
1880.
Total treated.
6
...
31
55
3
3
34
132
Died.
3
...
1
...
1
3
...
8
254
4.2
1881.
Total treated.
5
...
64
70
5
1
23
168
Died.
1
...
3
...
1
1
...
6
241.73
4.97
BERHAMPORE
JAIL.
1880.
Total treated.
45
...
123
216
...
4
114
502
Died.
1
...
6
4
...
...
2
13
277
22
1881.
Total treated.
11
14
72
166
...
3
39
305
Died.
1
6
6
2
...
...
2
17
213.24
14.39
In the Presidency and Alipore Jails jointly there was some reduction of
anæmia and debility corresponding with that of the asylum. Cholera was
represented by a single case in the former. At Alipore there were eight cases in
1881 against two in 1880. There was none in the asylum. Diarrhœa and
dysentery varied little in either place ; but the cases were numerous in the jails.
Fevers shewed no material change in the jails, but cases were numerous.
They were few in the asylum. Pneumonia decreased largely in both jails. It
did not vary in the asylum, but the quantity was insignificant. Phthisis shewed
reduction in both jails and large reduction in the asylum.