LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
15
Criminal lunatics.
9. On the 1st of January there was a population of (males 54, females 4) 58 criminal
lunatics, who thus formed (males 22.13, females 6.34) 18.89 per cent. of the total
number of patients in the asylum on that date. During the year (males 33, females 2) 35 were
admitted, and 1 male was re-admitted; so that the total population of this class was (males 88,
females 6) 94. From this number (males 8, female 1) 9 were discharged and transferred,
12 males were transferred to Berhampore Asylum, 2 males escaped, and 4 males died.
On the 31st of December (males 62, females 5) 67 of this class were remaining in the
asylum, which shows an increase of (males 8, female 1) 9 on the number present at the
commencement of the year.
Average strength
of criminal
lunatics.
10. The daily average strength of criminal lunatics was (males 63.55, females 4.59)
68.14, and formed (males 29.14, females 6.32) 23.44 per cent., or nearly one-fourth of the
daily average strength of the asylum during the year.
Sickness.
11. The total number of patients admitted into hospital during the year was (males
117, females 36) 153, or at the rate of (males 53.65, females 49.62) 52.64 per cent. of mean
strength. The daily average number of sick was (males 7.63, females 2.42) 10.05, or at the
rate per cent. of average strength of (males 3.49, females 3.33) 3.45, and was nearly the
same in the case of the male patients as in 1875, but was lower in the case of the females by
1.01 per cent.
Diseases which
caused the greatest
number of
admissions into
hospital.
12. Those diseases which caused the largest number of admissions into hospital, as
well as their proportion to the total admissions, are shown in the following table; the admis-
sions according to sex are shown separately—
DISEASES.
Fevers ... ... ... ...
Cholera and choleraic diarrhœa ...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
Of nervous system ... ... ...
Bronchitis
...
...
...
...
Dysentery ... ... ... ...
Other diseases ... ... ... ...
Total ...
MALES.
Admissions.
19
6
10
18
4
27
33
117
Percentage of
total
admissions.
16.24
5.12
8.55
15.38
3.42
23.08
28.21
100*
DISEASES.
Fevers
...
...
...
...
Cholera and choleraic diarrhœa ...
Phthisis
...
...
...
...
Of nervous system ... ... ...
Bronchitis
...
...
...
...
Dysentery
...
...
...
...
Other diseases ... ... ... ...
Total ...
FEMALES.
Admissions.
4
5
2
7
1
5
12
36
Percentage of
total
admissions.
11.11
13.89
5.56
19.44
2.78
13.89
33.33
100*
It will be gathered from the preceding table that dysentery, fevers, diseases of the
nervous system, and phthisis, gave upwards of 60 per cent. of the total admissions amongst
the male patients; while amongst the females diseases of the nervous system, dysentery,
cholera, and fevers, contributed more than half.
Dr. Payne's
remarks regarding
the sickness in the
asylum.
13. Regarding the amount of sickness in the asylum Dr. Payne writes as follows:—
“ Notwithstanding the very great prevalence of cholera in the neighbourhood, the asylum was
almost free from the disease. Two cases only occurred, and there was no death. Nine cases
are entered as choleraic diarrhœa, also without a death. But the most remarkable feature
in the sanitary history of the asylum for the year was the exemption it enjoyed from
dysentery. This disease, taking a very slow but very uncontrollable form, had been the
chief scourge of the asylum for many years. It had been studied carefully by committees
and individuals, and suggestions without number had been made and carried out in the
hope of reducing its frequency. Diet, clothing, housing, industry, had all in turn been
formed and re-formed with this object, but without success. The prevalence of dysentery
remained a reproach. There had also been, particularly among the women, another very
troublesome affection, whose cause and prevention formed a problem to be solved, viz. the large
quantity of intestinal round worms, sometimes causing fatal injury, and of late increasing
so much as to become a source of perplexity.
“ Outside the latrines there were shallow masonry reservoirs of water, to which the people
resorted for ablution after using the latrine. Early in the year, in the course of one morning
visit, I noticed that a lunatic after washing himself lifted a handful of the water to his mouth,
and there appeared at once an explanation of the great quantity of worms in the asylum.
It was clear that when any one discharged the ova they would readily find their way to the
stomachs of others adopting this practice, and it was equally clear that so long as access
was allowed to stagnant water for ablution the practice would continue. A plan was devised
therefore by which this should be made impossible. The reservoir was broken up, a pipe
was provided supplied with water, and taps fitted at intervals, on opening either of which a
horizontal jet of water was made to project and fall on a platform which sloped to a drain.
The lunatic seated on the platform opposite the jet, and in fact in it, would wash freely,
but be unable to make any further use of the water, which would fall away from his person
at once. This appeared to be entirely successful, and with the exception of one or two
cases no more was heard of round worms in the asylum after a short time. But it was