( 2 )
as usual, returned to the asylums after trial. One lunatic who escaped from
Berhampore in 1908 was readmitted during the year. As regards non-criminals
there was a long interval in the majority of cases between their last discharge
from the asylums and their re-admission during the year. In two cases only
were patients re admitted on a relapse after short intervals.
6. The number discharged from the asylums shows a falling off of 12 in
1910. Bhawanipur had 9 more discharges, there having been a larger number
of acute cases amongst the number admitted during the year which responded
to treatment and were discharged cured, while at Berhampore there was a
decrease of 21. The Superintendent of the latter institution states that there
were fewer recoveries and that there are a large number of incurable cases
which will never be fit for discharge. One lunatic, an undoubted case of
tubercular leprosy, was transferred to the Leper Asylum at Gobra, Calcutta,
where there is a ward for such cases.
Altogether 71 lunatics were discharged after recovery against 69 in 1909,
the percentage of cures calculated on the daily average strength being 7.66
and 7.78, respectively. Bhawanipur showed seven more recoveries, raising the
percentage from 5.40 in 1909 to 20.59 in 1910. At Berhampore there were
fewer favourable cases amongst the admissions during the year, which account
for a decrease of 8 in the number of recoveries. The number of males dis-
charged after recovery at Patna was 28 against 18 in 1909, while it was just
the reverse among females, 2 against 9.
7. Sickness and mortality.—The total number of admissions to hospitals
was 630 against 655 in 1909, the daily average sick being 82.81 and 115.72,
respectively. The percentage of constantly sick to average strength was also
less, 8.94 against 13.05. There were no cases of cholera or small-pox. Cases
of fevers were less numerous, the figures being 214 against 248 in 1909.
There were no deaths. Under the head of dysentery there were 34 admissions
with 8 deaths against 24 and 5, respectively, in the previous year. There
were 19 cases with 3 deaths at Berhampore against 12 and 3, respectively, in
1909. The Superintendent says, " it is astonishing to me that bowel disorders
were not more prevalent, as throughout the year we had the greatest difficulty
in obtaining a full complement of sweepers for conservancy work in the
asylum." Patna had 12 cases against 8, the number of deaths being 4 against
2 in 1909. The Superintendent says that the increase was probably due to
the asylum yard having been submerged during the floods in August, which
made the wards damp for some time. The same reason is assigned for the
increase in this asylum in pneumonia cases and deaths in 1910, the figures
being 8 and 6, respectively, against 3 and 3 in the previous year. There were
21 admissions from diarrhœa, with one death against 19 and nil in 1909. Seven-
teen patients were admitted for tubercle of the lungs against 30 in 1909. The
mortality at Berhampore was much higher than in the previous year, the figures
being 16 and 9 respectively. The Superintendent states that no fewer than
7 lunatics were admitted during the year with the disease—all died within
periods varying from 24 days to 10 months of their stay in the Asylum. He
adds that such cases are carefully watched and weighed month by month, per-
sistent loss of weight being a signal for special treatment. They are also
segregated as far as possible. The total mortality was 61 against 47 in 1909,
the death-rate per cent. being 6.58 and 5.30 respectively.
The rate of mortality in Bengal for 1910 was much less than that which
obtained in that year in other provinces, e.g., Central Provinces (20.48),
Punjab (14.08), Bombay (12.8), Eastern Bengal and Assam (11.81), Madras
(11.06) and the United Provinces (7.26). It was also much less than that
recorded for the County and Borough asylums in England for 1909, viz., 9.96
per cent., which is the latest figure available.
Statement II.
8. Criminal lunatics.—Admissions numbered 70, or 5 less than in 1909.
There were 10 re-admissions against 13 in the
previous year. Discharges were fewer by 7, the
figures being 57 against 64. There were 21 deaths, or 3 more than in 1909.
The daily average number confined in the asylums rose from 350.74 in 1909 to
365.70 in 1910.
Statements III, IV and V,
9. These do not call for any special com-
ment.