LUNATIC ASYLUMS IN BENGAL.
19
Criminal lunatics.
Admissions and
re-admissions.
Total criminal
population.
9. Of the class of criminal lunatics, there remained in the asylum on the 1st January
1876 (males 56, females 12) 68. This number, although less by five than what it was on
the corresponding date of 1875, was (males 14, females 4.7) 18.7 in excess of the average
number “ remaining ” in the asylum on the same date during the past decennial period. The
admissions and re-admissions amounted to (males 24, females 2) 26, which was a higher number
than was registered in any of the ten preceding years with the exception of in 1872 and
1874, and was in excess of the average of the same period by 7 males. The total popu-
lation of criminal lunatics was thus (males 80, females 14) 94. This number, although slightly
under that registered in 1875, was higher than in any year of the preceding decennial period.
Transferred.
10. Of the total population just shown, it appears that (males 11, females 2) 13 were
transferred, discharged, &c. Of these 13 patients, six were transferred to the asylum at
Berhampore on the 22nd September, and one to the Tezpore asylum on the 3rd May. Of
the five cured, three were sent to stand their trial, and two were set at liberty. One
case was transferred to the non-criminal list.
The total number of deaths amongst the criminal lunatics was (males 5, female 1) 6,
or at the rate of (males 8.73, females 8.64) 8.72 per cent. of the mean strength of this class.
This death-rate was considerably less than in 1875, when it was 10.61 and 14.54 per cent.
respectively of male and female criminal lunatics.
Population on the
31st of December.
11. The residual population of criminal lunatics on the 31st December 1876 was
(males 64, females 11) 75, and was considerably higher than that registered in the majority of the
ten preceding years, as well as higher than in any year of that period. There was an increase
during the year of the male criminal lunatics by eight, and a decrease of the females by one.
Average strength
of criminal
lunatics.
12. The daily average strength of criminal lunatics during the year was (males 57.21,
females 11.57) 68.78, and formed (males 33.78, females 30.82) 33.24 per cent. of the mean
asylum population. This strength, though slightly below what it was in 1875, was consider-
ably higher than the average of the preceding decennial period.
Daily average sick.
Admissions into
hospital.
Deaths and death-
rate.
13. The daily average number of sick in hospital was (males 29.63, females 4.71) 34.34,
or at the rate of (males 17.49, females 12.54) 16.59 per cent. of mean strength. There were
(males 425, females 39) 464 admissions into hospital, or at the rate of (males 250.97, females
103.91) 224.29 per cent. of mean strength. The deaths during the year amounted to (males 19,
females 8) 27, or at the rate of (males 11.22, females 21.31) 13.04 per cent. of mean strength,
against (males 11.05, females 33.66) 15.62 in 1875. It would thus appear that while the
mortality of the male insanes (as compared with that of 1875) remained almost unchanged,
the mortality of the females was reduced from 33.66 to 21.31. In 1875 the Deputy Surgeon-
General of the Dacca Circle, Dr. J. C. Bow, considered that the high mortality amongst the
females might have been caused by excessive and draughty ventilation; but no allusion has
been made to this point either by the Deputy Surgeon-General or the Superintendent in the
present report. Where such a large proportion of the mortality was due to bowel-complaints,
it may fairly be assumed that there was some defect in the quality of the food and water-
supply, or in the quantity of clothing supplied, or in the dryness of the sleeping wards;
and certain matters which were brought to light during the year would strengthen the idea
that the insane patients did not receive their proper daily allowance of food.
Statistics of
sickness and
mortality.
14. In the following table those diseases and injuries are shown in order of frequency
which were the principal causes of the admissions into hospital, as well as those which were the
principal causes of mortality. The death-rate per cent. of total treated and of total mortality is
also given—
MALES.
—
DISEASES.
Fevers ...
Diarrhœa ...
Dysentery ...
Debility ...
Dyspepsia ...
Diseases of ner-
vous system.
Bronchitis ...
Cholera ...
Phthisis ...
Scurvy ...
Pueumonia ...
Injuries ...
Plague ...
Asthma* ...
Anæmia ...
General dropsy ...
Other diseases ...
Total ...
Admitted.
102
61
40
31
14
10
7
3
3
3
2
38
1
...
3
3
101
425
Per cent. of
total admis-
sions.
24
14.35
9.41
7.29
3.29
2.35
1.64
.70
.70
.70
.47
8.94
.23
......
.70
.70
24.47
......
Died.
...
2
6
3
...
1
...
1
2
...
2
1
...
1
...
...
...
19
DEATHS PER CENT.—
Of total
treated.
......
3.12
13.63
9.37
......
9.09
......
33.33
50
...
66.66
2.63
......
100
......
......
......
4.29
Of total
mortality.
......
10.52
31.57
15.78
......
5.26
......
5.26
10.52
......
10.52
5.26
......
5.26
......
......
......
......
FEMALES
DISEASES.
Fevers ...
Debility ...
Diarrhœa ...
Cholera ...
Nervous system ...
Pneumonia ...
Phthisis ...
Dysentery ...
Other diseases ...
Total ...
Admitted.
11
8
6
2
2
2
1
1
6
39
Per cent. of
total admis-
sions.
28.20
20.51
15.38
5.12
5.12
5.12
2.56
2.56
15.38
Died.
...
2
2
1
...
1
1
1
...
8
DEATHS PER CENT.—
Of total
treated.
......
22.22
33.33
50
......
33.33
100
100
...
19.04
Of total
mortality.
......
25
25
12.50
...
12.50
12.50
12.50
......
......
* Remained under treatment from 1875.
D2