LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
11
being somewhat larger than among males. The chief fall took place in Dacca
with a decrease of 16 deaths; Patna follows next with a decrease of 11 deaths ;
while Cuttack shows 6 deaths, or just double the number recorded in 1884.
The mortality rose, however, very considerably in the Dullunda Asylum, where
27 deaths were registered in 1885 against 18 in 1884. The deaths in the
Berhampore Asylum varied but little in the two years, being 10 in 1885
against 9 in 1884. Dr. Murray states that in the Dullunda Asylum " a consider-
able proportion of the deaths occurred at the beginning of the year, and
consisted of old chronic hopeless cases that had been hanging on between
life and death for a lengthened period." The largest decrease in the general
mortality is in pulmonary disease. The deaths from phthisis during the
year fell from 26 in 1884 to 11 in 1885, while the fatal cases of dysentery and
diarrhœa together remained the same in both years. The mortality throughout
the year has not been excessive. The abatement in the fatality from chest
affections and the general improvement in the health of the inmates, I can
only view as reflecting great credit on the responsible officers, for their vigi-
lance in insisting upon, at all times, good and sufficient food and pure water
being supplied to the insanes, for their kind and considerate treatment of the
p oor helpless creatures, and for their earnestness in maintaining a thoroughly
healthful sanitary state of things. During the year I visited the Dullunda
(several times), Dacca, and Patna Asylums, and found everything as it should be.
The gardens maintained at these institutions are really most creditable. The
supplies of vegetable are varied and ample.
26. The following table exhibits the death rate recorded in the cities
and towns in which our Lunatic Asylums are situated :—
TABLE No. 13.
Statement of Deaths in 1884 and 1885.
NAMES OF
LOCALITIES.
Calcutta ...
Dacca ...
Patna ...
Cuttack ...
Berhampore ...
Population.
433,219
80,161
187,911
43,239
23,605
Fever.
1884.
3,618
847
2,094
163
335
1885.
3,831
838
2,776
154
419
Bowel-
complaints.
1884.
1,209
275
1,086
111
34
1885.
1,656
290
1,590
89
80
Cholera.
1884.
2,272
231
246
162
49
1885.
1,603
170
431
224
155
Total deaths
from all causes.
1884.
13,256
2,568
5,499
786
469
1885.
12,707
2,589
6,858
950
827
Ratio per 1,000
of population.
1884.
30.59
32.03
29.26
18.17
19.86
1885.
29.33
32.29
36.49
21.97
35.03
27. I am glad to observe that post-mortem examinations are now seldom
neglected.
28. The annual reports submitted by the several Superintendents are
full, and have been carefully prepared. The inmates confined in the asylums
have been well fed, well clothed, well housed, and most kindly treated, and
on the whole have been fairly healthy throughout the year.
29. Finance.—The following table shows money receipts and expenditure
in asylums during 1885, with detailed average cost of each patient :—
TABLE No. 14.
Showing the Receipts and Expenditure of each Asylum for the year 1885.
1
ASYLUMS.
Dullunda
...
...
Dacca ... ...
Patna
...
...
Cuttack ... ...
Berhampore
...
Total ...
2
Daily average strength.
248.74
223.92
232.26
59.7
175.
939.62
3
Total expenditure.
Rs.
31,750
18,173
16,801
4,811
14,634
86,171
A.
8
0
15
1
7
1
P.
11
3
4
7
4
5
4
Realised from friends
of patients.
Rs.
440
144
200
135
A.
10
4
0
0
P.
1
6
0
0
.........
919 14 7
5
Actual profit from
manufacture depart-
ment.
Rs.
*1,040
1,754
1,751
190
747
3,403
A.
9
4
14
10
2
6
P.
1
4
2
2
9
4
6
Average cost of each
patient
as per
column 3.
Rs.
127
81
72
80
83
91
A.
10
2
5
9
10
11
P.
4
6
5
4
0
4
7
Average cost of each
patient, deducting
columns 4 and 5.
Rs.
125
72
63
75
79
87
A.
14
10
15
2 5
1
P.
0
10
0
1
8
8
8
9
10 11 12 13
AVERAGE COST OF EACH PATIENT IN RELATION TO—
Establishment.
Rs.
44
35
36
54
45
41
A.
9
8
2
5
6
1
P.
7
0
6
5
4
9
Diet.
Rs.
45
31
30
22
32
34
A.
2
11
4
3
6
7
P.
10
10
4
7
2
3
Bazar medicines.
Rs.
0
0
0
0
0
0
A.
1
0
0
1
1
0
P.
1
3
3
2
1
8
Clothing.
Rs.
5
3
2
1
1
3
A.
8
4
6
15
13
4
P.
4
7
2
6
7
10
Contingencies.
Rs.
24
7
3
1
2
9
A.
7
1
7
1
5
8
P.
7
6
1
8
2
5
Other charges.
Rs.
7
3
0
0
1
3
A.
12
8
1
14
9
4
P.
11
4
1
0
8
5
* Loss.