LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
7
the abstract which follows, while a large number of admissions might be
accounted for under the head of " all other diseases." A table of diseases will
not be found in the reports of English asylums.
The following table shows the admissions from some of the most common
Indian diseases, and their relative frequency in the different asylums of Bengal,
during 1877 :—
STATEMENT No. 10.
DISEASES.
Fevers
...
...
...
...
Cholera
...
...
...
...
Pulmonary consumption ...
Brain diseases
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
...
Diarrhœa
... ... ...
Bronchitis and catarrh
...
...
Pueamonia
...
...
...
Exhaustion of mania ... ...
Spleen diseases
...
...
...
Anosmia and debility
...
...
Wounds, contusions, &c. ... ..
Fractures
...
...
...
...
Dullunda.
2
......
7
......
3
2
......
3
4
......
6
1
......
Dacca.
53
7
......
......
39
44
4
2
......
1
9
30
2
Patna.
23
5
3
4
13
14
2
......
......
1
8
......
1
Cuttack.
17
......
1
......
5
4
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
Moyda-
pore.
40
......
......
......
8
13
3
......
......
1
......
......
......
Berham-
pore.
60
3
1
25
11
......
......
2
......
......
......
......
Hazaree-
bagh.
57
......
......
......
7
27
14
7
......
1
14
21
7
TOTAL.
252
15
11
5
100
115
23
12
6
4
37
52
10
Pulmonary consumption does not appear to have been so common last
year as it was in 1876, when there were 29 cases and 23 deaths, against 11
admissions and 8 deaths in 1877. It is, however, a disease to which the
insane appear to be unusually prone, not only in this country, but in
Europe. The almost total absence of fever from the Dullunda Asylum is
very remarkable. In like manner, the small number of cases of diarrhœa
and dysentery in this asylum speaks highly in favour of its excellent
sanitary condition. Dr. Payne alludes to this subject in his report, and his
observations are well worthy of perusal. Cases of cholera occurred in Dacca,
Patna, and Berhampore; dysentery and diarrhœa were very prevalent in the
asylum of Dacca.
Cases of injury.
Observing in the returns of sickness several cases of injury, I referred to
all the Superintendents in order to find out which of these were the result of
violence on the part of either keepers or patients. The result of these
inquiries is as follows. At the asylums of Dullunda, Patna, Cuttack, and
Berhampore no patients were injured either by keepers or by their fellow-
patients. From Dacca one case of wounding by a keeper and seven cases by
patients were reported. Patients also got credit for causing four cases of contu-
sion and two of fracture of the forearm, which were admitted into hospital in
the same asylum.
The returns of injuries from Hazareebagh is more formidable. It is
stated that none of the injuries reported from this asylum were caused by
keepers.
Nature of injury.
Contusions of various parts ... ... ... ... ...
Wounds ... ... ... ... ... ...
Fracture of ribs ... ... ... ... ... ...
„
of arm ... ... ... ... ... ...
„
of forearm ... ... ... ... ...
„
of finger (metacarpal phalanges) ... ... ...
„
of nose ... ... ... ... ...
Dislocation of elbow ... ... ... ... ...
Total ...
Caused by
patients.
4
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
22
Cause not
ascertained.
2
...
1
...
...
1 ...
1
5
Dr. Crombie states that a keeper, who caused a wound on the arm of a
patient working at the oil-mill, by striking him with a bamboo, was dismissed.
The injuries reported from Hazareebagh tell against the overseer and
keepers. In an asylum such injuries ought to be unknown. When I inspected
that asylum not long ago, my attention was called to this subject by Mr. Birch,
and I spoke to Mr. Maunder, the Overseer, regarding it. The latter, as well
as the keepers, are new to their work; and it is to be hoped that during the
current year there will be no such list of casualties.